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THE 


BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA, 


THE    OPERATIONS 


"ARMY  OF  OCg6C 


for  oneimont: 


BY 

JAMES    HENRY    CA: 

CAPTAIN    IN    THE    FIRST    REGIMENT    OF    DRAGOONS. 


NEW  YORK: 


HARPER  AND  BROTHERS, 

No.  82  Cliff  Street. 

1848. 


c 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year   1848, 

By  Harper  and  Brothers, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  Dis- 
trict of  New  York. 


TO 


MAJOR-GENERAL    ZACHARY    TAYLOR 


THIS   ACCOUNT   OF 


THE    BATTLE    OF    BUENA    VISTA 


IS    RESPECTFULLY 


INSCRIBED. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  due  to  those  who  are  immediately 
interested  in  the  accuracy  of  the  following 
account,  as  well  as  to  the  historian  who 
may  hereafter  consult  it,  to  state  what  were 
the  opportunities  of  the  writer  for  knowing 
the  truth. 

For  two  months  before  the  battle  of  Bu- 
ena  Vista,  he  was  stationed  at  or  near  the 
ground  on  which  it  was  fought ;  and,  dur- 
ing this  time,  he  was  led,  with  others,  to 
remark  its  strength  as  a  military  position. 

In  the  battle  itself,  the  nature  of  the 
service  he  was  called  on  to  perform  as  com- 
mander of  a  company  of  dragoons,  afforded 
opportunities  of  deliberate  observation  in 
many  different  parts  of  the  scene,  and  en- 
abled him  sometimes  to  take  notes  of  what 
was  going  on  around  him. 

For  no  less  than  eight  months  afterward, 
he  was   encamped  on  the  same  spot,  and 


VI  PREFACE. 


had  the  best  opportunities  of  conferring 
with  the  different  officers  engaged,  and  of 
observing  accurately  the  various  localities. 

Hence  arose  his  purpose  of  attempting  a 
minute  description  of  the  battle,  —  a  pur- 
pose he  began  at  once  to  execute  under 
circumstances  which  seemed  to  invite  him 
to  the  task,  convinced  as  he  was,  that  what 
had  formed  so  interesting  a  part  of  his  own 
experience  and  observation,  would  be  re- 
garded hereafter  as  one  of  the  important 
events  in  the  military  history  of  the  coun- 
try. 

With  all  that  fell  under  his  personal  no- 
tice, or  was  derived  from  minute  inquiries  of 
other  officers  immediately  after  the  battle, 
he  has  combined  the  substance  of  what  ap- 
peared in  the  official  reports  of  both  parties. 
To  avoid  doing  injustice  to  the  Mexicans, 
their  reports  are  generally  quoted  at  the 
foot  of  the  page. 

To  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Churchill, 
Inspector-General  of  the  Army,  he  is  in- 
debted for  the  minute  report  of  the  killed 
and   wounded,  which   is   inserted   in   the 


PREFACE.  Vll 

Appendix.  Brevet  Captain  Sitgreaves,  of 
the  Corps  of  Topographical  Engineers,  has 
kindly  furnished  him  with  a  Plan  of  the 
battle-ground,  which  was  drawn  leisurely 
from  careful  measurements,  and  may  be  re- 
lied upon  as  scientifically  correct. 

The  Map  of  the  surrounding  country  has 
been  sketched  from  notes  made  on  the  spot, 
and  is  sufficiently  exact  to  give  an  idea  of 
the  different  routes  and  positions  having 
any  relation  to  the  battle. 

In  the  Appendix  are  given,  beside  the 
documents  referred  to  in  the  text,  several 
others,  which  seemed  pertinent  to  the  gen- 
eral subject  of  the  book. 

With  this  statement  of  his  opportunities 
of  knowing,  and  of  his  inducements  to 
describe,  the  details  of  the  Battle  of  Buena 
Vista,  the  writer  presents  his  narrative  to 
the  public,  claiming  for  it  only  the  consid- 
eration due  to  the  fidelity  and  candor  with 
which  he  has  attempted  to  compose  it. 

J.  H,  c, 

Boston,  July  4,  1848. 


It  is  the  purpose  of  the  following  narrative 
1 


' "  ~v'v  s 


LESEX1).  g^j 

J*.   Position  at*  General  Taylor  ilimti^  the     SSfe: 

Wttle  of  the  23^  of  Kbiarr. 

A.  Hacienda  San  Juan  Sela  Buena  \rista 

B.  La  Angostura 

C.  Beep  ouDiesto-tlieii^il  of  laJnigistnv 

D.  IbelnoUaiiicarniei'tiii^La -inmost™ 
ttrfk  the  Hatean. 

E.  Tie  Hateju. 

F.  TheTOrraeiniearaftjiePialemi. 

G.  TheliroaAt-avmeniftool  .,1  1|„  11  n,  a, 
H    The  Encampment . 
I.    Th-e]evaterb-iJg.    I .elvreen  the  fc-rt 

position  of  the  enemy  ;«ivi_tlnrt  at 

the  Americans. 
J     The  slope  of  fheuio.iutaiuto  the  left  of 

thePlaieao.  oei-npie.i  Iri-  Ainptiora  - 
K.  The  slope  of  the  jiioiuitain  oceupieA 

Dythe  American  njflemen . 
Ei.  Torition  of  laenl.-ji.uit    OlJn.ois  sec 

■.on  ol    Artillery  X  tl.e  ^"fiohajjaregi- 

tnrarlat  oaylavaj,  on  ll„.  JS'.'iof  FeVT 


Br, 


■*• 


£S*» 


Ml%01&^M      ;' 


:P  :l.,  A  A 

OF    THE 

BXTTtE  in- BUENA  V 

FOUGHT 

February    2211.d    &    23' 
1847. 


try  Brevet-Captain  Zorenza  Sitgre 

U.1S.T.E. 


Kmjravi'jl  for  fuplnin  Curh-t»i,.->   History   of  titr   BtittJv   nf  Bilaiui    llsti 


^    V 


LE  GESD. 

^N".  CaprtajiiliEaggsBattei-y-aaiitlie  i"3- 

Keuctrjeliv  "Vnlxajjteeirs . 
O.    First.  jtOTCf- 
tSeeoinl   £<trge. 
Tim- 3.  iurqe . 
K.  2^-TIHngU  A'aamiteeps. 
S-  Two  pieces  o±'  Captain.  SLenaHZ 

Batteinr. 
T.    TVo  etmrpauies   Tf*.  Dra^oans. 
17.   3P.  I.'tiIIi.  nil's  Tesrau  tompauT. 
V.     Colonel   Lane's    o1*"1  Indiana 
Vohmteess. 
'~Jp.      V    Ank^nsas  yju.il  Keuttuiy  iWimeot; 
Monnled  ^nhmtuets  . 
-■  X.   Krst   Coluum  ot   attack,  iiiiildi 
tUmreral  Mara  y  TiJlaniVL- 
Y.  Geneva  L  L oiiib^Eoiiiis   dxvisiau.. 
Z-   General    PachecoV  tlco.ai.caL . 


BROTHLRS,     NE1W     YORK. 


Engs  I,,  w  ffiarilje 


THE 


BATTLE  OF  BUEM  VISTA. 


The  Battle  of  Buena  Vista  has  now  become 
the  property  of  the  Past.  In  our  country's 
history,  it  stands  beside  that  of  Trenton, 
Saratoga,  Yorktown,  Niagara,  and  New  Or- 
leans ;  but  in  many  respects  it  much  surpasses 
them  all.  Of  the  numerous  triumphs  of  our 
arms,  it  is  by  far  the  greatest ;  as  a  proof  of 
American  valor,  it  shines  forth  immeasurably 
the  most  glorious.  That  every  individual  may 
clearly  understand  how  it  was  fought,  and  how 
won,  nothing  more  is  necessary  than  a  sim- 
ple array  of  the  facts,  which  constituted  the 
elements,  and  characterized  the  movements, 
of  the  two  armies  on  that  occasion ;  which 
determined  the  various  phases  of  their  pro- 
tracted conflict ;  and  which  finally  secured 
the  grand  result,  —  a  magnificent  victory  of 
the  one  over  the  other. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  following  narrative 
1 


2  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA, 

to  set  forth,  as  completely  as  possible,  those 
facts  in  their  true  light ;  to  speak  impartially 
of  both  sides ;  in  fine,  to  pass  before  the  eye 
of  the  reader  a  panorama  of  the  battle,  with 
no  other  than  its  own  fearful  embellishments. 

It  was,  without  doubt,  the  original  purpose 
of  General  Taylor,  in  the  event  of  Santa 
Anna's  marching  from  San  Luis  de  Potosi  to 
attack  him,  to  offer  battle  at  Agua  Nueva,  a 
hacienda  twenty  miles  south  of  Saltillo, 
near  which  place  he  was  then  encamped. 
Accordingly,  by  the  10th  of  February,  he 
had  moved  all  his  troops  thither  with  the 
exception  of  Captain  Webster's  Battery  of  two 
24-pounder  howitzers,  —  which  was  left  to 
occupy  a  redoubt  that  our  forces  had  erected 
on  an  eminence  commanding  the  approaches 
to  the  city, — and  a  small  battalion  of  riflemen, 
under  Major  Warren,  of  the  First  Regiment  of 
Illinois  Yolunteers,  to  protect  the  depot  of 
ammunition  and  provisions  still  remaining 
behind. 

It  was  necessary  to  select  some  place  for 
an  encampment,  where  the  ground  would  be 
sufficiently  extensive  and  otherwise  suitable 
for  the  instruction  of  the  troops ;  where 
wood  and  water  would  be   convenient ;    and 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  6 

where,  if  circumstances  should  require  it,  a 
battle  might  be  fought  to  good  advantage. 
Agua  Nueva  possessed  all  these  requisites  in 
a  greater  degree  than  any  other  place  within 
a  hundred  miles  of  Saltillo.  Opposed  to  some 
strong  reasons  against  it,  as  a  position  for  bat- 
tle, there  were  many  in  its  favor.  The  ene- 
my, in  advancing  upon  the  direct  and  great 
thoroughfare  from  San  Luis  de  Potosi,  had 
necessarily  to  approach  by  the  hacienda  La 
Encarnacion.  Thence  to  Agua  Nueva,  it  was 
thirty-five  miles  through  a  desert ;  a  long 
and  fatiguing  march  for  any  species  of  troops, 
but  particularly  for  artillery  and  infantry,  and 
without  one  drop  of  water  for  the  whole 
distance,  —  the  first  to  be  found  being  en- 
tirely in  our  possession.  Therefore,  by  main- 
taining that  place,  General  Taylor  would  have 
the  advantage  of  the  enemy's  disarray  from 
a  forced  march,  of  his  consequent  fatigue, 
and,  more  than  all,  of  the  unfitness  of  his 
men  and  animals,  from  long-continued  thirst, 
for  immediate  battle  ;  while,  on  the  contrary, 
his  own  troops  would  be  perfectly  fresh,  and 
prepared  at  all  points  to  receive  him.  Besides, 
unless  some  spot  should  be  chosen  still  farther 
in  advance,  it  was  better,  when  this  was  once 


4  BATTLE     OP     BUENA     VISTA. 

occupied,  to  maintain  it  if  possible,  than  to 
select  one  in  the  rear ;  because  the  fact  of 
retiring  on  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  even 
for  a  better  position,  would  be  calculated  to 
exert  a  moral  effect  upon  raw  troops  greatly  to 
be  dreaded,  as  it  would  cause  them  to  lose 
confidence  not  only  in  their  own  strength, 
but  in  the  sagacity,  firmness,  and  hopes  of 
their  leader,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  would 
serve  to  inspire  their  antagonists  with  a  more 
exalted  idea  of  their  own  prowess. 

These  reasons  for  considering  this  spot  as  a 
very  good  one  for  a  battle-ground  were  chiefly 
dependent  on  the  supposition,  that  Santa  Anna, 
if  he  came  at  all,  would  approach  the  Ameri- 
cans, encamped  upon  it,  from  La  Encarnacion, 
by  the  direct  road.  Agua  Nueva  is  situated  at 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  beautiful  valley 
of  La  Encantada ;  and  there  were  two  other 
routes,  by  which,  with  great  exertions,  he 
might  enter  it.  On  one,  he  could  march  to 
the  right,  by  La  Hedionda,  and  thereby  gain 
Buena  Yista  in  our  rear ;  and,  on  the  other,  he 
could  pass  to  the  left,  by  La  Punta  de  Santa 
Elena,  so  as  to  attain  the  hacienda  San  Juan 
de  la  Yaqueria,  which  would  likewise  enable 
him  to  get  possession  of  the  road  to   Saltillo, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  5 

and  oblige  our  army  to  fight  under  the  disad- 
vantage of  having  its  communication  entirely 
cut  off.  These  were  contingencies,  and  the 
only  ones,  which  would  render  a  change  of 
position  imperative.  As  a  last  resort,  there- 
fore, to  be  determined  upon  and  adopted 
according  to  the  dispositions  of  the  enemy, 
his  strength,  the  description  of  his  forces,  and 
the  manner  of  his  approach,  General  Taylor 
had  it  in  his  power  to  move  back,  and  take 
another  ground,  which,  as  early  as  the  Decem- 
ber previous,  General  Wool  had  selected*  as 
a  most  excellent  one  for  battle,  and  which, 
under  certain  circumstances,  would  be  greatly 
superior  to  that  which  the  army  then  occupied. 
This  latter  point  was  the  Pass  of  Buena  Vista, 
six  miles  in  front  of  Saltillo,  and  fourteen  in 
rear  of  Agua  Nueva. 

The  Pass  of  Buena  Vista  breaks  through  a 
chain  of  lofty  mountains,  which,  running  from 
east  to  west,  divides  the  valley  north  of  Sal- 
tillo from  the  more  elevated  one  of  La  En- 
cantada.  It  varies  in  width  from  a  mile  and 
a  half  to  four  miles ;  having  the  rancho  of  La 
Encantada  at  its  southern  and  narrowest  ex- 

*  See  Appendix,  B. 


6  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

tremity,  at  the  point  where  it  debouches  upon 
the  plain  in  the  valley  of  that  name,  and,  at 
its  northern  extremity,  the  city  of  Saltillo, 
built  immediately  upon  the  side  of  the  de- 
clivity by  which  it  abruptly  terminates,  as 
with  a  step,  or  leap,  to  the  valley  below  the 
town.  From  La  Encantada  a  small  stream  of 
water  finds  its  way  through  the  Pass  to  Sal- 
tillo, and,  although  it  keeps  much  nearer 
to  the  mountains  on  the  western  side,  still 
affords  room  enough  between  their  base  and 
its  bank  for  a  fine  belt  of  cultivated  fields, 
which,  with  but  few  intervals,  extends  near- 
ly its  whole  length.  The  portion  of  the  Pass 
east  of  the  stream  is  elevated  some  sixty  or 
seventy  feet  above  that  which  lies  to  the 
west  of  it,  and,  being  much  broader,  strikes 
the  eye  as  an  upper  table,  stretching  with  a 
very  regular  and  gradual  ascent  to  the  base  of 
the  wall  of  mountains  on  that  side.  The  road 
from  Saltillo  to  Agua  Nueva,  for  the  first  five 
miles,  continues  along  this  upper  plain  to  the 
point  where  is  situated  the  hacienda  San  Juan 
de  la  Buena  Vista/ A)   a    collection  of  adobe* 

<■ A  >  The  engraved  Plan  of  the  Battle  is  referred  to  by 
letters  and  figures. 

*  A-do-be;  large  bricks  made  of  clay  and  straw,  and 
Bun-dried, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  7 

buildings,  with  fiat  roofs  and  walls  of  great 
thickness,  and  capable  of  good  defence  against 
any  troops  without  artillery.  This  little  vil- 
lage enjoys  a  commanding  view,  not  only 
of  the  whole  Pass,  but  of  the  beautiful 
ranges  of  mountains  which  extend  from  Palo- 
mas  and  the  Rinconada  on  toward  Monclova, 
and  also  of  the  valley  of  La  Encantada,  with, 
far  to  the  southward,  the  lofty  peak  of  Cata- 
na,  towering  to  the  clouds  in  the  blue  distance. 
For  the  next  mile  the  road  runs  over  a  se- 
ries of  dry  barrancas,  or  ravines,  which  cross 
it  diagonally  from  the  mountains  on  the  left. 
It  then  descends  to  the  lower  level,  where  it 
follows  a  very  narrow  strip  of  land  lying  be- 
tween the  stream  and  several  abrupt  spurs  of 
the  upper  table,  which  jut  out  upon  it,  and 
which  are  separated  from  each  other,  at  un- 
equal intervals,  by  barrancas  much  broader 
and  deeper  than  the  first,  and  parallel  with 
them.  Thence,  onward,  it  winds  gradually 
upward  to  the  plain  of  La  Encantada.  At 
the  point  where  the  lower  level  is  first  struck 
in  going  southward,  the  strip  of  land  between 
the  first  and  highest  spur  and  the  perpendicu- 
lar bank  of  the  stream,  is  barely  wide  enough 
for  the  passage    of     the    road.       That  point 


8  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

is  called  La  Angostuba,(E> —  "  The  Narrows." 
Opposite,  and  in  advance  of  it,  the  stream  has 
worn  a  series  of  deep  channels  or  gullies/0 ) 
which  form  a  perfect  net-work,  extending  near- 
ly across  the  whole  lower  level  to  the  moun- 
tains on  the  right,  and  present  in  themselves 
a  formidable  obstacle  to  the  progress  of  any 
species  of  troops  whatever ;  being  upwards 
of  twenty  feet  in  depth,  with  sides  so  precipi- 
tous as  to  prevent  their  being  ascended,  except 
at  two  narrow  places,  without  the  assistance 
of  scaling-ladders.*  Immediately  to  the  left 
of  La  Angostura,  a  long  point  of  land,<D) 
which  constitutes  the  first  and  highest  spur, 
as  before  remarked,  advances  from  the  upper 
table  and  terminates  bluff  to  the  road,  which, 
towards  the  south,  it  commands  for  a  great 
distance.  Its  sides  are  exceedingly  steep, 
and  its  other  extremity  unites  with  a  broad 
plateau  above,  which  continues  back  to  the 
mountains.  This  plateau (E)  is  over  four 
hundred  yards  in  width  nearest  the  road,  and 

*  It  is  the  opinion  of  Inspector-General  Churchill, 
■who  examined  the  ground  carefully,  that  cavalry  and  in- 
fantry might  have  crossed  them,  without  much  difficulty, 
at  two  points ;  viz.  one  midway  between  the  stream  and 
the  mountains,  and  the  other  near  their  base. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  9 

some  two  hundred  yards  at  its  upper  termi- 
nation. In  rear  of  it  there  is  a  deep  ra- 
vine,(F)  too  precipitous  for  the  passage  of 
artillery,  and  very  difficult  for  cavalry ;  in 
front,  there  is  another,(G)  still  deeper  and 
more  difficult ;  thence,  all  the  way  to  La 
Encantada,  the  whole  Pass  to  the  left  of  the 
stream  is  a  succession  of  alternate  ridges 
and  barrancas,  wonderfully  calculated  to  crip- 
ple the  movements  of  cavalry  and  artillery, 
and  to  deprive  infantry  of  any  advantage  it 
might  otherwise  possess  by  superiority  in 
numbers.  La  Angostura,  the  high  ridge  con- 
necting it  with  the  plateau,  and  the  plateau 
itself,  being,  therefore,  the  most  easy  to  be 
defended  by  a  small  army  against  a  large  one, 
were  selected  as  the  positions  to  be  occupied 
by  ours,  should  the  necessity  of  abandoning 
Agua  Nueva  arise  from  Santa  Anna's  bringing 
against  us  a  force  greatly  superior  in  the  first 
two  arms  just  named,  which  could  there 
operate  with  freedom  and  rapidity,  but  here 
would  be  nearly  paralyzed. 

Between  the  10th  and  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  time  was  diligently  employed  in 
reconnoitring  the    roads    and   approaches,  and 


10  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

in  improving  our  troops  in  drill  and  disci- 
pline. General  Taylor  placed  the  whole 
camp,  and  the  instruction  of  the  troops,  un- 
der the  command  and  the  direction  of  Gen- 
eral Wool,  whose  long  experience,  skill,  and 
activity  peculiarly  fitted  him  for  that  respon- 
sible and  arduous  duty ;  and  each  day's  im- 
provement gave  evidence  of  his  indefatiga- 
ble exertions,  as  well  as  of  the  aptness  and 
intelligence  of  the  volunteers  who  were 
taught   under  his  superintendence. 

Every  day  brought  fresh  rumors  of  the 
approach  of  Santa  Anna  with  an  army  whose 
numerical  strength,  compared  with  that  of 
ours,  was  sufficient  to  cause  all  to  feel  that 
the  coming  struggle  must  be  of  the  most 
sanguinary  character.  Every  man,  therefore, 
however  humble  in  rank,  seemed  to  nerve 
himself  for  the  contest,  as  if  success  de- 
pended on  his  individual  efforts.  The  in- 
habitants of  Saltillo,  and  even  those  of 
Monterey,  began  rapidly  to  desert  those  cities  ; 
the  few  who  were  friendly  to  us  warning  us 
of  our  imminent  peril,  and  the  many  who 
were  inimical  wearing  a  look  of  insolent 
exultation  at  the  prospect  of  our  speedy 
destruction.       Our    guards,    night    and    day, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  11 

occupied  every  road  and  pass  leading  to  our 
position,  as  well  as  to  the  city  in  our  rear ; 
and  our  patrols  and  spies  were  thrown  far 
out  into  the  country  on  every  side.  Still, 
until  the  20th  of  February,  nothing  could 
be  discovered  that  would  serve  to  corrobo- 
rate the  reports,  which  we  were  continually 
receiving  through  the  medium  of  the  Mex- 
icans themselves,  of  the  advance  of  their 
army. 

It  was  well  known  that  General  Minon, 
with  a  brigade  consisting  of  2000  of  the 
choicest  cavalry  of  the  Republic,  still  hov- 
ered near  us ;  his  head-quarters  for  the 
most  of  the  time  being  at  the  hacienda  of 
Potos'i,  some  sixty  miles  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  from  Agua  Nueva ;  a  point,  from 
which  he  could  easily  hold  communication, 
both  with  Santa  Anna  and  with  the  citizens 
of  Saltillo  and  the  neighboring  country ; 
with  the  former  by  large  forces,  if  necessary, 
by  a  high  road  running  by  the  way  of  La 
Encarnacion,  or  by  that  of  Matahuala  to  the 
south,  and  with  the  latter  by  spies,  who 
could  cross  over  the  mountains  at  almost 
any  point,  or  pass  through  them  by  intricate 
defiles,  of  which  we  were    entirely  ignorant. 


12  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

On  Saturday,  the  20th  of  February,  a  strong 
reconnoitring  party,  consisting  of  two  com- 
panies of  the  1st  Dragoons,  two  companies 
of  the  2d  Dragoons,  a  section  of  Wash- 
ington's Battery,  4th  Artillery,  under  Lieu- 
tenant O'Brien,  and  a  sufficient  number  of 
volunteer  cavalry  to  make  in  all  a  force  of 
400  mounted  men,  —  the  whole  commanded 
by  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  of  the  2d 
Dragoons,  —  was  sent  to  the  valley  in  which 
is  situated  the  hacienda  of  Potosi,  with  a 
view,  not  only  to  ascertain  the  presence  of 
Minon's  brigade,  but  likewise  to  discover,  if 
possible,  whether  the  enemy  might  not  be 
advancing  in  force  through  that  valley  to- 
ward Palomas  Pass,  *  or  approaching  Buena 
Vista  by  the   La  Hedionda  route. 

Colonel  May  was  ordered  not  to  attack  the 
enemy,  but  to  avoid  him,  if  possible  ;  the 
purpose  of  his  march  being  solely  that  of 
observation.  At  the  same  time  that  he  was 
sent  in  this  direction,  Major  Benjamin  McCul- 
loch,  with  a  small  party  of  Texan  spies,  was 

*  By  great  exertions  the  Mexican  army  might  have 
come  through  this  Pass,  and  entered  the  valley  north 
of  Saltillo.  It  is  fair  to  say,  however,  that  many  who 
have  examined  this  difficult  defile  are  of  a  contrary 
opinion.  See  the  Map  of  the  country  around  Buena 
Yista. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  13 

ordered  toward  La  Encarnacion,  for  a  similar 
object. 

The  rancho  of  La  Hedionda  and  the  ha- 
cienda of  Potosi  are  situated,  respectively,  on 
the  western  and  eastern  sides  of  the  same  val- 
ley, and  are  about  thirty  miles  distant  from 
each  other.  Between  them  there  extends,  with- 
out any  interruption,  a  level  plain.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Colonel  May  arrived 
at  La  Hedionda,  and  immediately  sent  out 
piquets  in  various  directions,  to  take  a  sweep- 
ing view  of  the  whole  valley.  Hardly  had  he 
done  so,  when  signal-fires  were  lighted  on 
several  peaks  to  the  right  and  left  of  his 
position,  and  a  large  one  near  the  top  of  the 
towering  mountain  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood of  Potosi,  the  smoke  of  which  could 
be  seen  at  a  great  distance.  Immense  clouds 
of  dust  were  soon  afterwards  observed  to  rise 
in  the  direction  of  the  hacienda,  indicating 
evidently  the  march  of  troops.  To  the  left  of 
La  Hedionda,  there  is  a  long  range  of  hills 
shooting  off  into  the  valley,  like  a  spur,  from 
the  chain  of  mountains  which  lies  between 
Agua  Nueva  and  that  place,  and  stretching 
about  half  way  across  the  plain.  The  clouds 
of  dust    appeared  to   be  moving   around    the 


14  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

distant  point  of  those  hills  from  the  right. 
Colonel  May  was  aware  that  directly  over 
this  range  of  hills,  and  only  five  miles  distant, 
was  another  rancho,  called  Guachuchil,  and 
that  there  passed  by  it  a  road  from  Potosi  to 
Agua  Nueva,  which  came  into  that  over  which 
he  had  just  marched,  midway  from  where  he 
then  was  to  the  latter  place.  He  therefore 
imagined  that  the  clouds  of  dust,  which  had 
moved  around  in  the  direction  of  Guachuchil, 
were  raised  by  General  Minon's  brigade,  on 
its  march  to  get  a  position  between  him  and 
our  main  army,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting 
his  return.  To  be  sure  whether  such  was  the 
fact,  he  directed  Lieutenant  Sturgis,  of  the 
2d  Dragoons,  with  one  man  to  accompany 
him,  to  proceed  to  the  top  of  the  range  of  hills 
before  mentioned,  in  order  to  reconnoitre  the 
valley  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  rancho 
beyond.  This  was  at  about  five  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon ;  and,  as  the  ascent  was  very 
difficult,  it  was  nearly  sunset  before  the  Lieu- 
tenant arrived  at  the  summit.  No  sooner  had 
he  done  so,  however,  than  his  comrades  at  La 
Hedionda  heard  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry 
at  that  point,  and  supposed  he  and  the  man 
with  him  had  fallen  into  an  ambuscade,  and 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  15 

been   sacrificed.     Night  setting  in,  and  some 
of  the  piquets,   which  had  been  expected   to 
return  before  dark,  not  having  yet  come  back, 
it  was  feared  that  they,  too,  had  met  with  a 
similar  fate.     These  events  led  Colonel  May 
to  believe  that  the  enemy's  troops,  in  consider- 
able force,  were  very  near  him  ;    but    where 
they  were  exactly,   and  in  what  numbers,  he 
was   wholly   at    a   loss    to    determine.       The 
peones  at  the  rancho   were  exceedingly   terri- 
fied, and  either  could  not,  or  would  not,  im- 
part any  information  on  the  subject.     Colonel 
May  decided  to  stay  where  he  was  until  morn- 
ing, and  not   to  abandon  the  valley  until  he 
should  know  definitely    what   had  been  the 
fate   of  the   officers  and   men  whom   he    had 
detached.     As  he  had  no  doubt  he  should  be 
attacked  during  the  night,  he  prepared  at  once 
for  a  vigorous  defence  of  his  position.     Bales 
of  cotton,  which  were  found  at  the  rancho  in 
great  abundance,  were  placed  at   each  end  of 
a  street  running  through  it ;  and,  at  each  tem- 
porary  breastwork    thus    formed,    Lieutenant 
O'Brien   had    one    of    his    pieces.     The    men 
were  dismounted  to  occupy  the  different  build- 
ings   and  yards,    while  the  horses    were  kept 
saddled  and  ready  for  any  immediate  service 
that  circumstances  might  require. 


16  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

The  long  hours  of  watching  and  anxiety 
wore  slowly  away,  and  the  uncertainty,  as 
to  what  had  befallen  the  gallant  fellows  who 
were  absent,  filled  every  heart  with  despon- 
dency. By  nine  o'clock,  all  the  piquets  had 
returned  but  one,  of  twelve  men,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Wood,  of  the  2d  Dragoons ; 
but  none  of  them  had  seen  any  thing  of  the 
enemy.  As  Lieutenant  Wood  and  his  party, 
and  Lieutenant  Sturgis,  if  alive  and  at  liberty, 
should  have  been  back  hours  before,  there  no 
longer  remained  a  doubt  but  that  they  had 
either  been  destroyed  or  captured. 

It  was  past  ten  o'clock,  when  a  man, 
dressed  like  one  of  the  peones  at  the  rancho, 
desired  to  speak  with  Colonel  May.  This 
man #  communicated  the  important  intelli- 
gence, that  General  Miiion  was  not  only 
within  a  short  distance,f  but  that  Santa  Anna 
himself,  with  an  army  of  30,000  men,  was 
at  La  Encarnacion   that  morning,  and  would 

*  "A  deserter  from  the  regiment  of  Comceros,  a  native 
of  Saltillo,  named  Francisco  Valdes,  passed  over  from  La 
Encarnacion  to  the  enemy,  and  gave  him  information  of 
the  movement.  The  execrable  treason  of  this  infamous 
■wretch  frustrated  the  best  combinations."  —  Santa  Anna's 
Report  of  the  Battle. 

t  He  was  then  at  Guachuchil. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  17 

attack  General   Taylor,  at   Agua  Nueva,    the 
following  day. 

To  stay  at  La  Hedionda  a  moment  longer 
■was  out  of  the  question.  Colonel  May  had 
all  the  regular  cavalry  of  General  Taylor's 
army,  and  a  section  of  his  artillery,  —  a  num- 
ber and  description  of  troops  that  could  not 
be  spared  in  the  event  of  an  engagement ; 
and  it  was  instantly  determined  to  make  a 
forced  march  during  the  night,  in  order  to  join 
him  before  the  battle  should  begin.  The 
signal  to  advance  was  immediately  made 
known  to  the  enemy,  by  the  discharge  of 
two  muskets  on  the  very  eminence  where  it 
was  believed  poor  Sturgis  had  fallen ;  and  two 
or  three  new  fires  blazed  up  on  the  adjacent 
mountains.  Every  one  supposed  that  they 
were  intended  to  give  General  Minon  intelli- 
gence of  the  moment  when  the  column  should 
commence  its  return,  and  that  he  had  already 
arrived  at  the  junction  of  the  two  roads,  or 
was  making  a  rapid  march  thither,  to  cut  it 
off.  Every  thing  was  accordingly  prepared  for 
instant  combat.  A  strong  advance-guard  was 
thrown  far  to  the  front,  and  flankers  were  sent 
out  two  hundred  yards  to  the  right  and  left, 
to  prevent  surprise.  The  artillery  kept  the 
2 


18  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

road,  ready  to  come  into  battery  at  the  shortest 
notice,  being  supported  on  the  right  and  left 
by  the  1st  and  2d  Dragoons,  respectively, 
while  the  volunteer  force  brought  up  the  rear. 
When  the  column  had  got  well  into  the  pass 
through  the  mountains,  new  signals,  to  indi- 
cate that  it  had  done  so,  were  made  on  their 
summits  by  the  burning  of  fire-balls.  Thus  it 
moved  on  in  the  cold  and  the  darkness,  every 
man  believing  the  next  moment  would  find 
him  in  deadly  encounter  with  the  enemy,  yet 
determined  to  cut  his  way  to  the  support  of 
the  devoted  little  army  remaining  with  our 
brave  old  general. 

Contrary  to  expectation,  General  Mifion 
did  not  make  an  attack,  as  he  should  have 
done.  The  night  wore  away,  the  deep 
defiles  and  narrow  valleys  were  successively 
passed,  and,  before  daybreak  on  the  morning 
of  the  21st  of  February,  the  column  again 
joined  the  main  army,  after  a  march  of 
sixty  miles  in  less  than  twenty-one  hours. 
The  party  under  Lieutenant  Wood  also 
came  in  shortly  afterwards.  He  had  not 
been  surprised,  as  all  had  feared,  but  had 
been  unable  to  find  the  rancho  in  the  dark- 
ness, until  after    Colonel    May    had   left   it  j 


BATTLE     OF      BUENA     VISTA.  19 

and,  what  appeared  remarkable,  he  had  not 
discovered  a  single  trace  of  the  enemy  in 
his  whole  tour. 

So  far  the  expedition,  with  the  exception 
of  the  loss  of  Lieutenant  Sturgis  and  the 
dragoon  who  was  with  him,  had  been  ex- 
ceedingly fortunate.  It  was  now  known  be- 
yond a  doubt,  that  the  Mexican  army  was 
really  near  us,  and  meditating  an  immediate 
attack.  By  twelve  o'clock  on  the  21st,  Major 
McCulloch  likewise  returned,  and  confirmed 
all  that  Colonel  May  had  heard,  except  as 
to  the  prospect  of  Santa  Anna's  arriving  at 
Agua  Nueva  that  day.  The  Major  had  been 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  La  Encarnacion, 
and  with  great  adroitness  had  managed  to 
get  such  positions  as  to  enable  him,  with- 
out being  observed,  to  see  the  whole  force, 
and  to  estimate  very  nearly  the  strength  of 
the  different  arms.  He  believed  the  whole 
to  be  upwards  of  20,000  men,  with  a  large 
proportion  of  cavalry  and  artillery. 

As  every  thing  now  depended  on  the  issue 
of  the  expected  battle,  —  as  the  glory  of  the 
American  arms,  our  own  lives,  and  what- 
ever we  had  hitherto  gained  or  might  hope  to 
achieve  hereafter,  would  be   involved  in   the 


20  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

disastrous  consequences  of  a  defeat,  and  all 
must  be  hazarded  on  making  one  bold  stand, 
—  it  was  determined,  after  mature  considera- 
tion, in  order  that  the  enemy's  advantages 
should  be  diminished  as  much  as  possible,  to 
abandon  Agua  Nueva,  and  to  fall  back  on  the 
position  in  front  of  Buena  Vista.  That  point 
could  not  well  be  turned ;  and  the  nature 
of  the  ground,  as  has  already  been  re- 
marked, would  seriously  obstruct  the  opera- 
tions of  Santa  Anna's  cavalry  and  artillery, 
his  two  favorite  and  most  formidable  arms. 
There  was  still  another  important  object  to 
be  gained  by  this  movement,  which  will 
hereafter  be  explained.  Our  little  army, 
therefore,  marched  back  and  encamped  again 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  ha- 
cienda/H)one  mile  and  a  half  in  the  rear  of 
La  Angostura,  at  which  place  Colonel  Har- 
din's First  Regiment  of  Illinois  Yolunteers 
had  alone  been  halted,  with  orders  to  oc- 
cupy the  high  tongue  of  land(D)  command- 
ing the  road.  By  falling  back  thus  far 
from  the  spot  selected  for  the  final  issue, 
the  army  had  a  better  ground  to  encamp 
upon,  and  also,  close  at  hand,  an  abundant 
supply   of  water.       Another    advantage   was 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  21 

wisely  anticipated  from  this  disposition  of 
our  troops,  who  would  thus  not  be  obliged 
to  await  in  their  camp  the  attack,  but 
would,  at  the  proper  moment,  move  forward 
to  meet  it,  and  thereby  gain,  aside  from 
every  other  consideration,  the  moral  effect 
which  the  mere  fact  of  advancing  to  the 
conflict  would  be  sure  to  produce,  especial- 
ly on    troops  unaccustomed  to  battle. 

A  considerable  amount  of  stores  was  stih 
remaining  at  Agua  Nueva,  and  all  the  af- 
ternoon and  evening  of  the  21st  were 
diligently  employed  in  bringing  them  away , 
Colonel  Yell,  with  a  part  of  his  regiment 
of  Arkansas  Mounted  Volunteers  having  been 
ordered  to  remain  behind  and  protect  them 
to    the    last   moment. 

Santa  Anna  did  not  leave  La  Encarnacion 
until  noon  on  the  21st  of  February.  He 
then  put  his  troops  in  motion  in  the  fol- 
lowing order.  Four  battalions  of  light  in- 
fantry, under  General  Ampudia,  composed  his 
advance-guard.  This  division  was  followed 
by  a  brigade  of  artillery  of  16-pounders,  with 
a  regiment  of  engineers  and  their  train ;  and 
these,  by  the  park  of  the  regiment  of  hussars. 
Then  came  his  first  division  of  heavy  infantry, 


22  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

under  General  Lombardini,  with  five  12-pound- 
ers  and  their  park.  His  second  division,  under 
General  Pacheco,  followed  next,  with  eight 
8-pounders  and  their  park  ;  after  them,  the 
divisions  of  his  cavalry  under  General  Ju- 
vera.  Then  followed  the  remainder  of  his 
cannon,  with  the  general  park  and  baggage, 
the  rear  being  covered  by  a  brigade  of  lan- 
cers under  General  Andrade.  His  artillery 
consisted  of  three  24-pounders,  three  Im- 
pounders, five  12-pounders,  eight  8-pounders, 
and  a  7-inch  howitzer ;  in  all,  twenty  guns, 
besides  several  siege  pieces,  not  mounted,  but 
drawn  in  wagons.  Of  cavalry  he  had  4338, 
without  including  the  collateral  force  of  2000 
under  General  Minon  ;  and  his  engineers,  sap- 
pers, artillery,  and  infantry,  amounted  to 
upwards  of  17,000  men.* 

In  this  order  of  march  the  Mexican  army 
proceeded  from  La  Encarnacion  ;  and,  having 
passed  the  Plan  de  la  Guerra,  and  the 
narrow  defile  known  as  the  Pass  of  Pirlones, 
a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles,  halted,  in 
the  same  order,  in  a  little   valley  which  ex- 

*  This  estimate  is  based  on  the  orders  and  a  subse- 
quent report  of  Santa  Anna,  and  on  the  statements  of 
Mexican  officers  and  other  prisoners,  who  fell  into  our 
hands. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  23 

tends  from  the  latter  place  to  the  Pass  of 
Carnero  (near  Agua  Nueva),  the  light  infantry, 
under  General  Ampudia,  pushing  on  to  that 
point. 

Up  to  this  moment,  Santa  Anna  imagined 
that  General  Taylor  remained  entirely  igno- 
rant of  his  movement.  He  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  have  General  Minon's  2000 
cavalry  hovering  about  our  forces  for  nearly 
the  whole  winter ;  not  so  much  to  annoy 
us,  as  to  blind  us  to  the  approach  of  his 
main  army ;  shrewdly  concluding  that  our 
spies  and  reconnoitring  parties  would  mis- 
take the  advance  of  the  latter  for  the  occa- 
sional marches,  from  point  to  point,  of  the 
former,  and  not  take  alarm  until  he  should 
be  upon  us  in  sufficient  strength  to  destroy 
us  at  a  blow.  As  he  acted,  therefore,  under 
the  impression  that  all  his  plans  for  con- 
cealment had  thus  far  been  successful,  his 
purpose  in  sending  General  Ampudia  forward 
during  the  night,  was  to  occupy  the  Pass  of 
Carnero,  in  case  it  should  not  be  already  in 
the  possession  of  our  troops  and  fortified. 
He  supposed  that  if,  by  any  possibility,  Gen- 
eral Taylor  knew  of  his  approach,  he  would 
certainly   dispute   the  passage  of  that   point ; 


24  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

but,  if  not,  which  appeared  to  him  probable, 
he  hoped  to  surprise  him  by  daybreak  the  fol- 
lowing morning  in  his  camp  at  Agua  Nueva. 
It  was  long  after  dark  when  orders  were 
given  for  the  two  companies  of  the  1st  Dra- 
goons, and  a  part  of  the  regiment  of  Ken- 
tucky Mounted  Volunteers,  to  return  from 
the  camp  at  Buena  Vista  to  the  assistance 
of  Colonel  Yell,  in  case  the  enemy  should 
attempt  to  cut  him  off;  and  directions  were 
sent  to  him,  in  the  event  of  an  attack,  to 
fire  the  hacienda  of  Agua  Nueva,  and  de- 
stroy the  stores  he  might  be  unable  to  re- 
move, and  then  to  fall  back  on  the  position 
occupied  by  the  army.  It  was  nearly  mid- 
night when  these  troops  arrived  there.  They 
had  hardly  formed,  when  Colonel  Yell's  ad- 
vanced piquet,  stationed  in  the  Pass  of  Car- 
nero,  was  attacked  by  the  Mexican  light 
division  and  driven  in ;  *  our  men  not  even 
waiting    to     determine    whether    those    who 

*  Our  piquets  had  met  with  patrols  from  General 
Minon's  brigade  on  several  previous  occasions  down  this 
road  toward  La  Encarnacion,  and  shots  had  been  ex- 
changed between  them.  Ampudia  justified  his  firing,  and 
the  risk  of  thereby  alarming  our  camp,  by  saying  he 
believed  our  men  had  mistaken  his  own  for  General 
Miiion's  troops. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  25 

fired  upon  them  were  mounted  or  on  foot. 
The  order  was  immediately  given  to  set  fire 
to  the  buildings,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
whole  train  of  both  loaded  and  empty  wag- 
ons moved  off  with  furious  speed  for  Buena 
Vista  ;  the  troops  remaining  behind  until  all 
the  stores  were  consumed. 

The  burning  of  the  buildings,  and  of  several 
large  stacks  of  unthreshed  grain,  illumined  the 
whole  valley  of  La  Encantada,  and  painted 
the  rugged  and  picturesque  features  of  the 
surrounding  mountains  in  bright  relief  against 
the  murky  shadows  of  the  intervening  gorges. 
Perhaps  no  single  picture  of  some  of  the 
most  striking  effects  of  war  could  produce  a 
stronger  or  more  lasting  impression,  than  the 
one  here  exhibited.  The  noise  of  the  falling 
timbers,  the  roar  of  the  flames,  the  huge  col- 
umn of  ascending  smoke,  the  appearance  of 
armed  and  mounted  men  moving  between  the 
spectator  and  the  fire,  with  the  brilliant  light 
flashing  here  and  there  on  burnished  arms 
and  glittering  appointments,  —  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  scattered  shots  interchanged 
between  still  other  of  our  advanced  parties 
and  those  of  Ampudia,  the  heavy  rumbling 
of  our  rapidly  retreating  train  of  wagons,  in- 


26  BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA. 

termingled  with  the  distant  trumpet-signals 
now  and  then  faintly  heard  in  the  direction 
of  the  approaching  enemy,  —  all  conspired  to 
render  that  cold,  deep  midnight,  one  which 
could  never  he  forgotten.  Besides,  the  scene 
of  that  conflagration,  with  its  attendant  cir- 
cumstances, was  invested  with  another  and 
more  fearful  interest ;  for  it  awakened  the  re- 
flection, that  the  coming  morrow  was  to  be- 
hold the  two  armies,  now  so  near  each  other, 
in  mortal  strife,  the  issue  of  which  no  one 
could  contemplate  without  intense  anxiety. 

It  was  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  22d 
of  February,  when  all  our  cavalry  had  re- 
turned to  Buena  Vista,  leaving  the  whole  val- 
ley of  La  Encantada  open  to  the  enemy.  But 
before  that  time  Santa  Anna  had  again  put 
the  heavy  masses  of  his  column  in  motion  for 
the  Pass  of  Carnero,  being  still  under  the  im- 
pression that  he  should  be  able  to  come  sudden- 
ly upon  General  Taylor's  force  at  Agua  Nueva, 
and  to  cut  it  up  before  it  could  be  suitably 
disposed  for  battle.  Great,  therefore,  was  his 
astonishment  on  coming  through  the  moun- 
tain gorge,  far  enough  to  command  a  view 
of  that  place,  to  find  it  entirely  abandoned. 
At  first    he    imagined    our  forces  had  retired 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  27 

under  the  cover  of  intrenchments,  which  he 
had  heard  we  had  thrown  up;  and  he  im- 
mediately directed  his  troops  so  as  to  turn 
our  right,  in  order  to  gain  La  Encantada 
and  the  road  between  us  and  Saltillo,  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  part  of  one  of  his  three 
previous  plans  of  operation.  But,  upon  ap- 
proaching the  ruins  of  the  hacienda,  a  Mex- 
ican servant,  whom  he  found  there,  informed 
him  that  our  army  had  been  evacuating  its 
position  ever  since  the  preceding  day,  and 
had  fallen  back  toward  the  city.  By  this 
movement,  all  his  purposes,  based  upon  the 
expectation  of  resistance  at  Agua  Nueva, 
were  rendered  abortive.  But  this  masterly 
strategy  of  our  commander,  hi  his  change 
of  position,  was  then,  as  had  been  calculated, 
construed  by  Santa  Anna  into  a  precipitate 
retreat.  Therefore,  without  pausing  to  refresh 
his  already  exhausted  troops,  he  pushed  on 
with  his  whole  cavalry  force  and  his  light 
division,  to  cut  us  to  pieces.  This  he  be- 
lieved he  could  the  more  readily  accomplish, 
as  he  had  previously  ordered  General  Mifion, 
with  his  2000  choice  troops,  to  get  in  rear  of 
us,  if  possible,  at  Buena  Vista ;  if  not,  by  the 
Pass  of  Palomas  Adentro,  and  a  narrow  and 


28  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

winding  pathway  over  the  mountains  to  the 
valley  east  of  Saltillo.*  Supposing  that  order 
already  executed,  he  indulged  the  hope  that 
he  could  yet  entrap,  between  two  formida- 
ble portions  of  his  army,  what  he  imagined 
to  be  our  panic-stricken  and  fugitive  col- 
umns. Elated  by  such  a  brilliant  prospect, 
he  urged  more  rapidly  forward  his  weary  and 
nearly  famished  troops,  leaving  directions  for 
his  artillery  and  heavy  infantry  to  follow  as 
fast  as  possible. 

Thus,  by  General  Taylor's  falling  back  to 
Buena  Vista,  he  caused  Santa  Anna  to  become 
inspired  with  the  hope  just  mentioned.  Under 
its  influence,  he  compelled  his  whole  army, 
already  suffering  from  thirst  and  worn  down 
by  the  fatigue  of  a  continuous  march  of 
thirty-five  miles  over  a  desert,  to  hurry  on 
fourteen  more,  without  rest,  and  with  only 
the  refreshment  of  a  meagre  repast  and  a  sin- 
gle draught  of  water. 

*  General  Minon  says  in  his  Report,  that  Santa  Anna 
did  not  direct  or  suggest  the  latter  movement  until  the 
evening  of  the  22d ;  that  before  that  time  he  (General 
Minon)  had  taken  the  responsibility  of  moving  thither, 
and  had  gained  a  position  east  of  the  town,  as  soon 
as  he  could  do  so  after  he  had  learned  that  General 
Taylor  had  fallen  back  on  Buena  Vista.  Santa  Anna 
himself  is  the  opposing  authority. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA.  29 

No  calculations  could  have  had  results  more 
fortunate  than  those  of  General  Taylor.  San- 
ta Anna  had  cherished  the  vain  belief  that 
his  antagonist  remained  totally  ignorant  of  his 
movements ;  and,  by  his  extreme  solicitude  to 
keep  up  that  ignorance  until  the  moment  of 
attack,  he  permitted  himself  to  be  completely 
out-generalled,  even  on  this  very  point.  For 
his  own  place  and  condition  were  perfectly 
known,  while  he  himself  remained,  as  he 
unwillingly  admits,  entirely  in  the  dark  as  to 
those  of  General  Taylor,  whose  retrograde 
and  apparently  confused  and  hurried  march 
decoyed  him  into  what  he  has  since  termed 
a  Thermopylas.  It  is  very  doubtful  if,  with 
all  his  superiority  of  numbers,  he  could  have 
been  induced  to  venture  to  this  spot,  had  not 
his  elation  at  the  prospect  of  our  speedy  de- 
struction borne  him  so  far  forward  before  he 
was  undeceived  as  to  our  flight,  that  he  could 
not  recede,  nor  avoid  a  battle,  without  dis- 
grace. 

He  was,  therefore,  singularly  unfortunate  in 
thus  having  the  scene  of  his  anticipated  en- 
gagement so  suddenly,  unexpectedly,  and,  as  it 
were,  mysteriously  changed  from  a  known  to 
an  unknown  point.     Nor  was  he  less  so  as  to 


30  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

the  time  he  had  selected  for  it.  If,  in  the 
whole  year,  there  be  one  day,  above  all  others, 
when  the  heart  of  an  American  is  naturally 
animated  by  the  purest  sentiments  of  patriot- 
ism, —  when  all  that  is  greatest  and  best  in  his 
country's  history  is  brought  most  vividly  to 
his  mind,  as  an  example  that  should  strength- 
en his  purpose,  and  nerve  his  arm,  to  emulate 
the  glorious  deeds  of  the  Past,  —  that  is  the 
day  which  gave  birth  to  the  Father  of  his 
Country.  But  it  was  on  the  morning  of 
Washington's  Birthday,  that  Santa  Anna  in- 
dulged in  the  delusive  hope,  that  an  army  of 
Americans,  unmindful  of  its  sublime  associa- 
tions, and.  recreant  to  their  country  and  their 
name,  had  basely  fled  before  him. 

It  was  eight  o'clock  when  the  "long  roll" 
called  our  men  to  arms.  No  one,  who  there 
witnessed  the  cheerful  alacrity  with  which 
they  seized  their  weapons,  and  sprang  to  their 
places  in  the  lines,  —  who  saw  the  firm  re- 
solve impressed  on  every  countenance  in  that 
determined  little  band,  —  can  ever  forget  the 
sight. 

Every  banner  was  unfurled  to  the  bright 
sun  and  enlivening  breeze  ;  and,  as  the  various 
bands  of  music  struck  up  the  national  air  of 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  31 

" Hail,  Columbia"  the  sacred  battle-cry,  — 
"The  Memory  of  Washington!" — passed 
from  regiment  to  regiment,  and  from  corps  to 
corps,  amid  the  most  enthusiastic   shouts. 

Could  the  friends  at  home,  of  those  here 
marshalled  for  the  conflict,  have  seen  the  spirit 
which  animated  them  ;  could  they  have  be- 
held them  cut  off  from  the  hope  of  returning 
with  honor  to  all  they  loved,  except  through 
their  own  brave  exertions,  surrounded,*  as 
they  were,  by  foes  bent  on  their  destruction, 
proverbially  merciless,  smarting  under  the  dis- 
grace of  recent  defeats,  and  now  about  to  fight 
under  the  immediate  eye  of  their  most  distin- 
guished general ;  —  could  their  dearest  friends 
have  seen  them  thus,  not  one  but  would  have 
glowed  with  pride  at  their  gallant  bearing, 
and  would  himself  have  girded  on  their  arms, 
and,  invoking  for  them  the  aid  of  the  God  of 
Battles,  would,  in  the  spirit  of  the  heroic 
past,  have  bid  them  go  forth  to  victory,  or, 
if  it  must  be,  to  the  sacrifice. 

*  The  2000  cavalry,  under  General  Mifion,  had  already- 
come  through  the  Pass  of  Palomas  Adentro  in  rear  of  us ; 
and  General  Urrea  and  General  Romero,  with  another 
brigade  of  cavalry,  had  previously  been  sent  through  the 
mountains  by  the  way  of  Tula,  and  were  at  this  time  on 
the  road  east  of  Monterey.  — ■  See  Santa  Anna's  Report* 


32  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

General  Taylor  had  not  yet  returned  from 
Saltillo,  whither  he  had  proceeded,  on  the  eve- 
ning of  the  21st,  with  a  small  force,  to  make 
dispositions  for  its  defence.  General  Wool, 
therefore,  being  next  to  him  in  rank,  com- 
manded the  troops  during  his  absence,  and 
now  gave  the  order  to  move  forward  to  the 
battle-ground.  It  was  received  with  three 
hearty  cheers,  when  the  regiments  and  corps 
broke  into  column,  and  each,  to  the  time  of 
some  lively  air,  moved  rapidly  off  to  its  posi- 
tion. 

In  the  mean  time,  Santa  Anna's  cavalry 
came  thundering  along  the  valley  of  La  En- 
cantada,  and  down  the  road  through  the 
Pass,  a  vast  cloud  of  dust  distinctly  marking 
its  progress.  The  first  evidence  it  received, 
that  any  check  would  be  offered  to  its  onward 
course  to  Saltillo,  was  the  sight  of  Washing- 
ton's Battery  of  eight  pieces,  which  had  been 
directed  by  General  Wool  to  occupy  La  An- 
gostura, and  was  then  advancing  over  the 
crest  of  a  ridge,  and  descending  the  slope  of 
the  road  leading  to  that  position  ;  and  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers,  which 
was  already  on  the  high  ridge  to  the  left  of  it. 
As  soon  as  the  enemy  discovered  this  force, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  33 

and  before  he  had  come  within  range  of 
Washington's  guns,  his  bugles  sounded  a  halt. 
Immediately  afterwards,  all  the  more  advanced 
squadrons  wheeled  about,  and  retired  behind  a 
protecting  elevation  of  the  ground, (I)  while 
those  in  the  rear  came  rapidly  up,  and  formed 
upon  them.  In  a  short  time,  then  compact 
and  serried  masses,  thus  accumulated,  with 
their  flags  and  pennons  flying,  and  their  bright 
lances  sparkling  in  the  sun,  extended  from  the 
stream  nearly  half  way  to  the  mountains  on 
our  left. 

By  this  time  General  Wool  had  placed 
our  troops  in  their  several  positions,* and  the 
following  was  the  order  of  battle  for  the 
22d  of  February.  Captain  Washington's 
Battery  occupied  the  road  at  La  Angostura, 
supported  by  Colonel  Hardin's  First  Regiment 
of  Illinois  Yolunteers,  posted,  as  before  re- 
marked, on  the  elevated  tongue  of  land 
which  extends  from  that  point  to  the  plateau. 
The  Second  Regiment  of  Illinois  Yolunteers 
and  one  company  of  Texans,  the  whole 
under  Colonel    Bissell,  were    on    its  left,  and 

*  That  is,  the  very  first  positions  of  the  several  regi- 
ments and  corps.  Every  change  they  afterwards  made 
ia  noted  in  the  text. 

3 


34  BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA. 

near  the  foot  of  the  plateau ;  while  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Kentucky  Volunteers,  under 
Colonel  McKee,  occupied  the  crest  of  a  ridge 
in  the  rear  of  Washington's  Battery,  around 
which  the  road,  divided,  runs.  The  Arkansas 
and  Kentucky  Regiments  of  Mounted  Volun- 
teers, commanded,  severally,  by  Colonel  Yell 
and  Colonel  Marshall,  were  stationed  on  the 
extreme  left,  near  the  base  of  the  mountains  ; 
while  the  brigade  of  Indiana  Volunteers,  un- 
der General  Lane  (composed  of  the  Second 
Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Bowles,  and 
the  Third  by  Colonel  Lane),  the  First  Regi- 
'  ment  of  Mississippi  Riflemen  under  Colonel 
Jefferson  Davis,  Captain  S teen's  squadron  of 
the  1st  Dragoons,  Lieutenant-Colonel  May's 
squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  and  the  light 
Batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg,  oc- 
cupied, as  a  reserve,  the  next  ridges  immedi- 
ately in  rear  of  the  right  of  the  plateau  and 
of  the  ground  of  the  Illinois  Volunteers.  In 
this  position  our  army  awaited  the  attack. 

The  situation  of  the  troops  was  now  such 
that  most  of  them  could  command  a  view 
of  the  upper  end  of  the  pass  and  the  open- 
ing to  the  valley  beyond.  The  enemy  was 
evidently  waiting  for  the    arrival  of  his  rear 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  35 

columns.  In  the  mean  time,  General  Tay- 
lor had  returned  from  Saltillo.  As  he  rode 
along  our  lines,  he  was  everywhere  received 
with  the  most  enthusiastic  cheers;  and  the 
sound  of  each  wild  hurrah  could  be  distinctly 
heard  by  those  of  the  Mexican  army  who 
had  already  arrived  on  their  ground. 

General  Wool  also  rode  along  the  lines, 
and  addressed  a  few  spirited  and  patriotic 
remarks  to  each  regiment  and  corps  which 
he  passed.  He  reminded  the  troops  of  his 
own  column  particularly  of  their  past  labors, 
and  their  protracted  and  weary  marches  *  to 
find  the  enemy,  who  now  stood  before  them 
in  sufficient  strength  to  give  them  all  they 
could  require  in  the  way  of  combat,  and  to 
afford  every  man  an  opportunity  to  win  all 
the  distinction  he  could  wish.  And  he  sug- 
gested to  the  minds  of  all  the  great  good 
fortune  which  was  theirs,  to  be  called  more 
signally  to  mark  the  anniversary  of  a  day 
already  hallowed  to  their  country,  and  one 
on  which  no  man  could  be  unfaithful  to  the 
trust  she  had  confided  to  him,  — ■  that  of 
maintaining    the    glory  of   her  arms  and  the 

*  See  Appendix,  A. 


36      BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA. 

lustre  of  the  American  name  as  bright  and 
unsullied  as  they  had  been  left  by  her  great- 
est general,  to  whom  this  day  had  given 
birth.  This  was,  likewise,  responded  to  by 
three   hearty  cheers. 

For  a  long  time,  the  engineers  and  topo- 
graphical engineers  of  both  armies  were  busily 
employed ;  ours,  in  moving  far  to  the  front, 
to  get  a  more  accurate  view  of  their  differ- 
ent forces  as  they  came  up,  and  to  learn 
their  several  positions,  —  and  theirs,  in  gain- 
ing elevated  points  between  the  two  lines,  to 
reconnoitre  our  ground  and  the  disposition 
of  our  troops.  Our  exact  strength  they  al- 
ready knew  from  their  spies  and  from  their 
friends  in  Saltillo. 

Meanwhile  Santa  Anna  sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce*  to  General  Taylor,  with  the  following 
note  : 

"Head-Quarters  of  the  Liberating 
Army  of  the  Republic. 
"You  are  surrounded  by  twenty  thousand  men,  and 
cannot,  in  any  human   probability,  avoid  suffering  a  rout 

*  The  bearer  of  this  flag  was  a  German,  named  Van- 
derlinden,  then  tbe  Surgeon- General  of  the  Mexican  army. 
lie  seemed  very  anxious  to  impress  upon  the  mind  of  the 
officer  who  met  him  the  important  fact,  that  Santa  Anna 
had  twenty-three  generals  with  him, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  37 

and  being  cut  to  pieces  with  your  troops.  But,  as  you 
deserve  from  me  consideration  and  particular  esteem,  I 
wish  to  save  you  from  a  catastrophe ;  and  for  that  pur- 
pose I  give  you  this  notice,  in  order  that  you  may  sur- 
render at  discretion,  under  the  assurance  that  you  will 
be  treated  Avith  the  consideration  belonging  to  the  Mex- 
ican character.  To  this  end,  you  will  be  granted  an 
hour's  time  to  make  up  your  mind,  to  commence  from 
the  moment  when  a  flag  of  truce  arrives  in  your  camp. 
With  this  view,  I  assure  you  of  my  particular  considera- 
tion. 

"  God  and  Liberty  !     Camp  at  Encantada,  February  22, 

1847. 

"ANTO.  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

"To  General   Z.  Taylor, 

"  Commanding  the  Forces  of  tlie  United  States."  * 

In  answer  to  the  foregoing,  General  Taylor 
immediately  despatched  this  note  : 

"Head-Quarters,  Armt  of  Occupation, 

Near  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  22,  1847. 
"  Sir :    In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  date,  summoning 
me  to  surrender  my  forces  at  discretion,  I  beg  leave  to 
say  that  I  decline  acceding  to  your  request. 
"  With  high  respect,  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

"Z.  TAYLOR, 
"  Major-  General  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 
"Senor  General  D.  Anto.  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna, 
"  Commanding  in  chief,  Encantada." 

*  See  Appendix,  C, 


38  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

A  short  time  afterwards,*  the  whole  of  the 
Mexican  army  had  come  up  and  been  formed 
upon  their  ground  in  the  following  order  : 

The  first  and  second  divisions  of  infantry 
were  placed  in  two  lines,  one  in  rear  of  the 
other,  on  one  of  the  ridges  in  front  of  our 
position ;  there  being  another  and  rather  more 
elevated  one  between  us.  A  battery  of  Im- 
pounders, supported  by  the  regiment  of  engi- 
neers, was  established  on  a  higher  point  on 
their  right ;  and  two  others,  of  12  and  8 
pounders,  and  the  7-inch  howitzer,  on  their 
left  and  near  the  road.  The  latter  were  placed 
in  battery  by  Santa  Anna  in  person  ;  the  for- 
mer, by  his  Chief  of  Engineers,  General  Mora 
y  Villamil,  and  his  Chief  of  Artillery,  Gen- 
eral Corona.  The  cavalry  was  then  disposed 
in  rear  of  his  right  and  left  flanks,  and  the 
regiment  of  hussars,  —  Santa  Anna's  personal 
guard,  —  in  rear  of  the  centre.  There  was 
a  small  eminence  on  his  left,  directly  upon 
the  road,  and  in  front  of  Washington's  Bat- 
tery, which   the  beautiful  battalion  of  Leon 

*  "We  took  a  position  and  awaited  the  infantry,  -which 
arrived  at  one  o'clock,  having  taken  on  the  road  five  wag- 
ons, and  some  provisions  and  forage  left  by  the  enemy."  — 
Mexican  Engineer's  Report  of  the  Battle. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  39 

was  ordered  to  occupy.  The  general  park 
was  placed  in  rear  of  all,  and  covered  by  the 
brigade  of  General  Andrade.  Santa  Anna's 
own  position  was  the  same  as  that  of  his 
hussars. 

It  was  past  two  o'clock  before  all  these  ar- 
rangements had  been  completed.  In  the  inter- 
val, General  Ampudia  and  Colonel  Baneneli, 
with  the  four  battalions  of  light  infantry, 
were  directed  to  get  possession  of  one  of  two 
gradual  slopes (J)  of  the  mountain  to  the  left 
of  the  plateau.  This  movement  being  ob- 
served, a  portion  of  the  Arkansas  and  Ken- 
tucky Yolunteers,  and  a  small  battalion  from 
the  Indiana  brigade,  all  on  foot,  and  armed 
with  rifles,  were  placed  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Marshall,  and  sent  up  the  other 
slope (K>  to  resist  them.  While  these  troops 
were  approaching  each  other,  and  severally 
climbing  up  their  opposite  ridges  (which,  it 
should  be  remarked,  draw  closer  and  closer 
together,  and  finally  unite  near  the  summit  of 
the  mountain),  each  evidently  endeavoring  to 
outflank  the  other,  a  movement  was  made 
on  the  enemy's  left,  which  induced  General 
Taylor  to  order  a  corresponding  one  on  our 
right.     Accordingly,    Captain    Bragg's   Light 


40  BATTLE     OF     BTJENA     VISTA. 

Battery,  with  Colonel  McKee's  Regiment  of 
Kentucky  foot  Volunteers  as  a  support,  was 
sent  across  the  stream,  to  occupy  a  position 
between  it  and  the  mountains  on  that  side, 
and  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  Battery  at 
La  Angostura. 

Captain  Washington  had  already  detached 
two  of  his  pieces,  which  were  sent  up  to  the 
left  of  the  plateau,  under  Lieutenant  Bryan, 
of  the  Topographical  Engineers,  then  tem- 
porarily on  duty  in  the  artillery,  — '  when  he 
was  asked  by  General  Wool,  if  he  could  spare 
still  another. 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  But  what  will  become  of  this  key  to  our 
position,  if  you  are  deprived  of  three  of  your 
guns  ?  " 

"  I  will  defend  it,"  was  his  gallant  re- 
ply ;  and  he  immediately  detached  Lieutenant 
O'Brien,  then  commanding  his  first  section, 
with  another  piece. 

When  this  gun  was  joined  to  the  section 
already  on  the  plateau,  Lieutenant  O'Brien 
took  command  of  the  whole  ;  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Indiana  Volunteers  being  ordered 
up  to  sustain  him. 

At  three  o'clock  precisely,  the  enemy  opened 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  41 

the  battle  by  firing  a  shell  from  his  howitzer 
at  this  part  of  our  lines.  Immediately  after- 
wards, Ampudia's  light  division  became  warmly 
engaged  with  our  riflemen,  on  the  side  of  the 
mountain  ;  the  former  discharging  their  pieces 
in  continuous  and  rapid  volleys  ;  the  latter, 
lying  behind  the  crest  of  their  ridge,  firing 
deliberately,  and  doing  terrible  execution  with 
their  unerring  weapons.  From  that  time  until 
dark,  these  troops  continued  the  conflict  with- 
out changing  their  positions,  except  to  ap- 
proach each  other  by  climbing  still  higher  up 
the  mountain,  until,  at  last,  there  were  two 
lines  of  combatants  from  near  the  plateau  to 
its  very  summit. 

The  fighting  in  this  quarter,  together  with 
an  occasional  cannonade,  directed  by  the  ene- 
my at  the  troops  on  the  plateau,  constituted  the 
action  of  the  22d ;  the  two  armies  not  becom- 
ing regularly  engaged  on  that  day.  At  dark, 
a  shell  was  thrown  into  the  air  by  the  enemy, 
as  a  signal  for  his  light  division  to  cease  the 
contest ;  and  not  a  gun  was  fired  afterwards, 
by  either  side,  for  the  whole  night,  except  a 
few  shots  now  and  then  exchanged  between 
the  advanced  piquets  and  moving  patrols  of 
the  two  forces. 


42  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

The  loss  on  the  American  side  during  this 
day's  contest  was  very  trifling,  four  men  only 
being  wounded  ;  while  that  of  the  Mexican 
army  was  over  three  hundred,*  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

By  night  fall,  Colonel  Hardin's  First  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteers  had  completed  a 
parapet  on  the  high  ridge  it  occupied,  extend- 
ing along  its  whole  front  ;  and,  under  the 
direction  of  our  engineers,  had  dug  a  ditch  and 
thrown  up  an  epaulment  in  front  of  Wash- 
ington's Battery,  with  a  traverse  upon  its  right, 
continuing  the  ditch  and  a  slight  breastwork 
from  thence  to  the  brink  of  the  impassable 
gullies  of  the  stream.  This  ditch  was  occu- 
pied  by   an   immediate    supporting   force   de- 

*  "The  enemy,  so  soon  as  he  perceived  that  we  had 
occupied  the  height  that  flanked  his  left  and  our  right, 
detached  two  battalions  to  dislodge  us,  which  led  to  a 
■warm  engagement,  that  lasted  all  the  afternoon  and  till 
after  dark,  when  he  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  four  hun- 
dred men,  according  to  the  report  of  the  prisoners.  Ours 
was  much  less,  as  we  had  the  advantage  of  the  ground."  — 
Santa  Anna's  Report  of  the  Battle. 

"The  enemy  tried  in  vain  to  dislodge  them  [Ampudia's 
light  battalions]  from  their  position,  by  moving  against  it  a 
heavy  column ;  and  was  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  the 
ravine  [between  the  two  slopes]  filled  with  wounded."  — 
Mexican  Engineer  s  Report, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA.  43 

tached  from  Colonel  Hardin's  regiment,  con- 
sisting of  two  companies,  and  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Weatherford.  To  provide 
for  the  contingency  of  the  advance  of  our 
batteries  during  the  battle,  a  small  opening 
was  left  between  the  left  of  the  epaulment 
and  the  high  bluff,  sufficiently  wide  for  the 
passage  of  cannon.  But,  in  order  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  having  the  advantage  of  it 
in  case  of  an  assault,  it  was  choked  up  by 
two  wagons,  laden  with  stones,  and  having 
their  wheels  locked  by  chains.  They  could 
easily  be  removed  by  us,  and  the  way  be 
opened  in  case  of  necessity. 

Early  hi  the  day,  General  Mifion,  with  his 
brigade,  had  entered  the  valley  east  of  Saltillo, 
as  Santa  Anna  had  anticipated ;  but  the  latter, 
finding  General  Taylor  had  made  a  stand  and 
was  determined  to  offer  him  battle,  sent  di- 
rections to  the  former  to  remain  in  that  quar- 
ter, and  to  fall  upon  us  during  our  retreat 
before  his  overwhelming  masses.  In  order 
the  more  certainly  to  insure  that  none  of  our 
army  should  escape,  a  thousand  mounted  ran- 
cheros,    armed    with    lances    and   machetes,  * 

*  Ma-che-te,  a  kind  of  long,  heavy  knife,  similar  to  those 
used  in  cutting  down  Indian  corn. 


44  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

who  had  been  collected  at  Monclova,  Buena- 
ventura, and  Parras,  and  were  commanded  by 
Colonel  Miguel  Blanco  and  Colonel  Aguierra, 
were  also  sent  from  Patos,  by  a  mule-path 
leading  through  the  mountains,  into  the  same 
valley.  While,  therefore,  General  Mifion  was 
to  hover  about  the  east  side  of  the  road  lead- 
ing from  Saltillo  to  Monterey,  along  which, 
it  was  supposed,  we  should  soon  be  flying  in 
great  confusion,  Colonels  Blanco  and  Aguierra 
were  to  occupy  the  small  town  of  Capellania 
on  the  west,  likewise  to  await  our  retreat,  and 
to  assist  in  cutting  us  up  without  quarter. 

General  Taylor,  feeling  convinced  from  the 
dispositions  of  Santa  Anna,  that  he  would  de- 
fer making  his  grand  attack  until  the  next 
morning,  and  fearing  that  the  strong  force  in 
the  rear  of  the  city,  where  all  our  stores  were, 
might  make  a  movement  to  take  it,  left  Gen- 
eral Wool  in  command,  and  again,  at  sunset, 
started  from  the  field,  with  Colonel  May's 
squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  and  Colonel 
Davis's  Regiment  of  Mississippi  Riflemen,  for 
Saltillo,  the  better  to  provide  for  such  an" 
emergency.  On  arriving  there,  he  arranged 
that  Warren's  and  Webster's  commands  should 
remain  to  garrison  the  town  and  redoubt,  re- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  45 

spectively,  as  they  had  previously  done ;  and 
that  the  train  and  head-quarters  camp,  then 
established  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  immediate- 
ly south  of  the  town,  should  be  defended  by 
one  6-pounder,  detached  from  Captain  Bragg 's 
Battery,  and  under  the  command  of  Lieuten- 
ant Shover,  with  a  support  of  two  companies 
of  Colonel  Davis's  riflemen,  under  Captain 
Rogers. 

After  the  action  of  the  22d  had  drawn  to 
a  close,  Santa  Anna  made  a  final  address  to 
those  of  his  troops  that  remained  in  our  front. 
He  referred  to  the  wrongs  which,  he  said, 
had  been  inflicted  upon  their  country  by 
the  barbarians  of  the  North;  wrongs  which 
could  not  be  submitted  to  without  eternal 
disgrace,  and  which  could  be  redressed  only 
by  the  last  resort  of  nations.  The  United 
States  of  the  North  had,  coward-like,  pre- 
sumed on  their  strength  alone,  and  wantonly 
set  at  defiance  every  principle  of  right.  They 
had  provoked  this  war  under  the  cover  of 
other  objects  to  be  gained,  but  really  for  their 
own  aggrandizement,  and  the  acquisition  of 
territory  clearly  the  property  of  the  United 
States  of  the  South.  The  one  country  aimed 
only  at  the  entire  destruction  of  the  nation- 


46  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

ality  of  the  other.  He  wished  to  call  their 
whole  attention  to  that  single  fact ;  and  not 
only  to  that,  but  to  a  thousand  others,  which, 
like  that,  would  make  them  burn  to  take  ter- 
rible vengeance  on  the  mercenary  invaders 
of  their  soil.  He  called  upon  them  to  look 
upon  their  country.  What  met  their  sight? 
Its  possessions  wrested  away ;  its  dignity  in- 
sulted ;  its  fair  fields  ravaged ;  its  citizens 
slaughtered;  its  hearths  and  homes  made  des- 
olate. Others  had  gone  forth  to  vindicate 
these  wrongs,  but  they  had  fallen ;  and  now 
their  blood,  which  had  drenched  the  fields  of 
Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Monterey, 
called  on  them,  their  brethren,  with  an  elo- 
quence that  must  reach  their  hearts,  to  avenge 
their  death.  He  reminded  them,  that  they 
had  crossed  deserts,  had  suffered  hunger,  and 
thirst,  and  fatigue,  without  a  murmur.  Long 
and  weary  had  been  their  march ;  but  now 
they  should  be  rewarded  with  repose,  and  the 
enjoyment  of  the  abundance  which  filled  the 
ample  granaries  of  the  murderers  of  their  breth- 
ren. He  concluded  by  saying,  that  we  were 
but  a  handful,  and  at  his  mercy ;  that  he  had 
magnanimously  offered  to  spare  our  lives,  and 
even  to  treat  us  with  consideration;  but  that 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  47 

we  had  vain-gloriously  rejected  his  clemency, 
leaving,  as  the  only  alternative,  our  utter  ex- 
termination, without    pity  or  quarter.* 

This  address  was  received  with  loud  cries 
of  "  Viva  Santana  !  "  "  Viva  la  Republica  !  " 
"  Libertad  o  Muerte !  "  —  distinctly  heard  in 
our  lines.  After  the  shouting  had  ceased,  San- 
ta Anna's  own  magnificent  band  commenced 
playing ;  and,  as  the  gentle  breeze  swept 
down  the  Pass  toward  us,  each  delicious  strain 
seemed  to  float  upon  it,  mellowed  by  dis- 
tance, yet  distinct  and  inexpressibly  sweet. 
For  over  half  an  hour  it  continued  to  delight 
our  "  barbarian  ears "  with  the  exquisitely 
beautiful  airs  of  the  sumiy  south.  When  it 
had  finished,  and  the  last  faint  echo  had  sunk 
to  rest,  silence  the  most  profound  fell  over 
the  two  armies  like  a  pall.  The  huge  moun- 
tains on  each  side  reared  their  craggy  heads 
high  into  the  darkness  above,  and  the  Pass 
itself  seemed  to  lie  between  them  in  deep 
gloom  and  utter  solitude.  No  one  could  real- 
ize that  there  were  so  many  thousands  of 
human  beings  gathered  together  in  that  nar- 
row gorge.     And  it  was  a  dreadful  reflection, 

*  The  substance  of  this  address  was  repeated  to  some 
of  our  officers  by  Mexicans  who  heard  it. 


48  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

that  so  many  of  them,  now  full  of  life,  and 
ambition,  and  high  aspirations  ;  now  visiting 
in  thought  their  far-off  homes  and  the  dear 
ones  there ;  now  the  objects  of  pride  and 
yearning  solicitude  ;  now  the  centre  of  deep 
affection,  of  sacred  love,  and  of  long-cherished 
hopes,  —  would  be  stricken  down  in  the  full 
flush  and  vigor  of  manhood,  and,  ere  another 
night  should  cast  its  dark  mantle  over  the 
earth,  would  be  numbered  for  ever  among  the 
things  that  were. 

At  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  two  com- 
panies of  the  1st  Dragoons  were  ordered  by 
General  Wool  to  return  to  Buena  Vista,  strike 
our  camp,  pack  it  in  wagons,  and  then  to  park 
these  carefully  in  one  of  the  hollows  between 
the  hacienda  and  La  Angostura.  This  ser- 
vice was  completed  by  half  past  one  o'clock, 
and  the  whole  train  arranged  so  as  to  be  moved 
at  the  shortest  notice. 

Until  eleven  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the 
22d,  the  weather  was  quite  mild ;  but  at  that 
hour  a  cold  wind  began  to  blow,  and  the  sky, 
which  before  had  been  thickly  overcast,  be- 
came filled  with  dark  and  heavy  drifts  of 
clouds,  which  now  and  then  let  down  slight 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  49 

showers  of  rain,  more  particularly  up  the 
mountain  on  our  left,  There  the  men  suf- 
fered extremely  from  the  cold.  They  gath- 
ered together  the  trunks  of  the  yuca  and  the 
dry  stalks  of  the  sotol,  and  built  themselves 
fires,  until  at  length,  up  the  whole  side  of  the 
mountain,  from  near  the  plateau  to  the  very 
top,  light  after  light  was  kindled ;  and  for  the 
whole  night  long  each  one  was  surrounded  by 
a  circle  of  shivering  troops.  All  the  rest  of 
both  armies  remained  in  position,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms  without  fires.* 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  some  of  our  advanced  piquets  were  at- 
tacked by  those  of  the  Mexican  army,  and 
driven,  in  ;  and,  between  that  time  and  day- 
break, the  light  division  of  General  Ampudia 
was  reenforced  by  2000  infantry  from  the  di- 
visions of  Generals  Lombardini  and  Pacheco. 
Many  of  Ampudia' s  command,  when  it  had 
thus  been  augmented,  clambered  along  near 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  succeeded 
in  gaining  elevated    positions    to  the  left  and 

*  "In  our  position  we  passed  the  night,  which  was  ab- 
solutely infernal,  owing  to  the  cold,  rain,  and  wind,  which 
last  almost  amounted  to  a  hurricane,  while  we  had  neither 
food  nor  fuel."  — Mexican  Engineer's  Report. 

4 


50  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

rear  of  our  riflemen.  It  was  also  in  this  quar- 
ter, at  the  very  first  dawn  of  day,  that  the 
battle  of  the  23d  commenced. 

General  Wool,  perceiving  that  the  strength 
of  the  enemy  in  that  direction  was  much 
greater  than  on  the  evening  before,  immedi- 
ately detached  Major  Trail,  of  the  2d  Illinois 
Volunteers,  with  another  small  battalion  of 
riflemen,  including  Captain  Conner's  company 
of  Texas  Volunteers,  to  reenforce  the  com- 
mand which  had  there  engaged  the  enemy 
with  much  spirit,  and,  although  contending 
with  nearly  eight  to  one,  continued  to  main- 
tain very  handsomely  its  own  part  of  the 
mountain.  It  was  soon  assisted,  likewise,  by 
Lieutenant  O'Brien,  who,  with  the  2d  Indiana 
Volunteers,  had  remained  at  the  upper  edge  (L) 
of  the  plateau  for  the  night.  His  pieces  were 
one  12-pounder  howitzer,  one  6-pounder  gun, 
and  one  4-pounder.  Just  at  sunrise,  as  great 
numbers  of  Ampudia's  light  troops  poured 
down  into  the  ravine  which  divided  their  slope 
of  the  mountain  from  the  one  occupied  by 
our  riflemen,  he  pushed  forward  his  howitzer, 
and,  although  the  distance  and  elevation  were 
very  great,  succeeded  in  throwing  directly  into 
the  midst  of  them  some  six  or  eight  spherical- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  51 

case  shot,  which,  exploding  just  at  the  proper 
time,  did  immense  execution.  Up  to  this  mo- 
ment the  discharge  of  the  enemy's  musketry  on 
the  side  of  the  mountain  had  been  incessant  ; 
but,  at  the  bursting  of  the  first  shot,  it  com- 
pletely ceased  for  several  minutes,  his  troops 
being  occupied  in  climbing  still  higher  up  and 
out  of  range.  The  accuracy  and  effect  of 
Lieutenant  O'Brien's  firing  on  this  occasion 
were  so  admirable,  as  to  call  forth  the  cheers 
of  our  whole  line. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  chief  of  Santa  Anna's 
staff,  General  Micheltorena,  succeeded  in  plant- 
ing a  battery  of  8-pounders  at  the  upper  termi- 
nation of  the  elevated  ridge  (M)  already  spoken 
of  as  lying  between  our  position  and  that  of 
the  enemy,  from  which  point  he  had  a  plung- 
ing fire  on  the  plateau.  His  first  efforts  were 
against  the  pieces  under  Lieutenant  O'Brien, 
but  the  distance  was  so  great,  that  the  latter 
did  not  attempt  to  answer  him. 

While  the  battle  was  thus  opened  and  con- 
tinued by  the  small  force  on  our  extreme  left, 
the  rest  of  our  troops,  under  the  direction  of 
General  Wool,  were  placed  in  their  final  posi- 
tion to  await  the  attack  then  menaced  in  our 
front.     Captain  Bragg's  Battery,  supported  by 


52  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Colonel  McKee's  regiment,  remained  at  the 
same  point (N)  on  our  extreme  right,  to  which 
it  had  been  directed  to  proceed  the  evening 
before.  Captain  Washington's  Battery  con- 
tinued to  occupy  La  Angostura/ B)  sustained 
by  Colonel  Hardin's  regiment  *  in  the  trenches 
on  its  right,  and  upon  the  high  spur  on  its 
left. 

It  should  have  been  remarked,  that  the  pla- 
teau is  scalloped,  on  its  side  next  the  road, 
by  three  deep  gorges,  that  run  back  into  it. 
They  are  of  unequal  length;  the  shortest (0) 
being  only  a  little  in  advance  of  the  point 
where  the  high  tongue  of  land,  occupied  by  the 
1st  Illinois  Volunteers,  joins  the  upper  plain ; 
the  next (P)  still  longer;  and  the  third (GL)  run- 
ning back  more  than  half  way  from  the  road  to 
the  mountain.  The  six  companies  f  of  Colonel 
Bissell's  Second  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, which  remained,  were  posted  on  the  pla- 
teau opposite  to  the  head  of  the  middle  gorge. (R) 

*  That  is,  eight  companies  of  it ;  Captain  Morgan's  and 
Captain  Prentiss's  companies  composing  a  part  of  Major 
Warren's  command  in   Saltillo. 

t  Two  were  in  Saltillo,  Captain  Hacker's  and  Captain 
Wheeler's,  —  and  two  (besides  the  Texan  company),  Cap- 
tain Lemon's  and  Captain  Woodward's,  composed  the  bat- 
talion sent  to  the  mountain  under  Major  Trail. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  53 

On  their  left,  and  a  little  retired,  was  one  12- 
pounder  howitzer,  under  Lieutenant  French, 
and  on  their  right,  and  also  a  little  in  the  rear, 
one  6-pounder  gun,  under  Lieutenant  Thomas. 
Both  these  pieces  belonged  to  Captain  Sher- 
man's Battery,  the  other  two,  under  the  Cap- 
tain himself  and  Lieutenant  John  F.  Rey- 
nolds, remaining  in  reserve,  as  on  the  22d.(S> 
To  the  right  and  rear  of  Lieutenant  Thomas's 
gun,  were  the  two  companies  of  the  1st  Dra- 
goons,CT)  and  to  the  right  and  rear  of  them, 
and  near  the  head  of  the  first  gorge,  Major 
McCulloch's  company  of  Mounted  Texans.(U) 
Colonel  Bowles's  Second  Regiment  of  Indiana 
Volunteers  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the 
plateau,  with  Lieutenant  O'Brien's  three  pieces 
on  their  right ;  there  being  a  long  interval  be- 
tween his  guns  and  Lieutenant  French's  how- 
itzer on  the  left  of  the  regiment  under  Colo- 
nel Bissell.  Colonel  Lane's  Third  Regiment 
of  Indiana  Volunteers  occupied  the  small  emi- 
nence(V)  in  rear  of  Washington's  Battery,  while 
all  of  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  Mounted 
Volunteers,  who  had  not  been  detached  to  fight 
on  foot,  remained  in  the  head  of  the  broad 
ravine  (W)  in  rear  of  the  left  of  the  plateau. 
The   Mexican   army  was  formed   in   three 


54  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

columns  of  attack.  The  first/X)  destined  to 
move  down  the  road  and  carry  the  Pass  of  La 
Angostura,  was  composed  of  the  Regiment  of 
Engineers,  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  the  Regi- 
ment styled  u Fijo  de  Mexico"  the  Battalion 
of  Puebla,  and  the  celebrated  "  Guar  da  Costa 
de  Tampico."  This  column  was  commanded 
by  General  Mora  y  Villamil.  The  second 
column  was  composed  of  the  divisions  of 
Generals  Lombardini  and  Pacheco,  and  was 
destined,  one  division (Y)  to  move  directly 
across  the  ridge  to  the  left  of  their  8-pounder 
battery,  and  the  other (Z)  to  advance  up  the 
principal  ravine  in  front  of  the  plateau,  where 
both,  uniting  near  the  mountain,  were  to  turn 
the  left  of  our  force  upon  the  plateau.  The 
troops  under  General  Ampudia  were  to  com- 
pose the  third/ J)  destined  to  sweep  the  moun- 
tain, to  turn  our  extreme  left,  and  then,  in 
conjunction  with  the  second,  to  fall  on  our 
rear.  The  first  two  columns  had  each  a  strong 
supporting  force  of  cavalry ;  moreover,  the 
12-pounder  battery  and  the  howitzer  were 
brought  farther  forward,  and  established  within 
range  of  La  Angostura,  on  a  slight  eminence/ l) 
close  to  the  road,  and  just  to  the  right  and  rear 
of  the  small  hill  occupied  by  the  battalion  of 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA.  55 

Leon.(20>  This  battery  was  to  assist  the  at- 
tack to  be  made  by  the  first  column.  A  pow- 
erful reserve/ 2)  commanded  by  General  Or- 
tega, remained  on  the  ground  occupied,  on  the 
night  of  the  22d,  by  Santa  Anna's  two  front 
lines  of  battle. 

These  arrangements,  on  both  sides,  com- 
pleted the  preliminaries  of  the  grand  conflict. 
While  they  were  in  progress,  our  riflemen  and 
Ampudia's  force  continued  hotly  engaged,  and 
the  enemy's  battery  of  8-pounders  kept  up  a 
steady  fire  upon  our  troops  on  the  left  of  the 
plateau/ L) 

As  General  Pacheco's  division  had  fewer 
difficulties  to  overcome  than  that  of  General 
Lombardini,  it  had  moved  up  the  ravine  and 
gained  its  position  before  the  latter  had  united 
with  it.  General  Lombardini's  division,  how- 
ever, had  by  that  time  passed  the  summit  of 
the  height  where  the  8-pounder  battery  was 
posted/ M)  and  began  to  descend  the  declivity 
toward  the  same  ravine,  but  at  a  point  higher 
up  than  that  already  occupied  by  General 
Pacheco.  Both  of  these  divisions,  as  has  been 
already  remarked,  were  supported  by  large 
bodies  of  dragoons'  and  lancers  ;  and,  while  Pa- 
checo's, being  in  the  deep  ravine  in  front,  was 


56  BATTLE      OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

concealed  from  view,  Lombardini's  was  in  full 
sight  of  nearly  the  whole  of  our  army.  And  a 
most  beautiful  sight  it  was.  The  men  were  all 
in  full  dress,  the  horses  were  gayly  caparisoned, 
and  the  arms  of  both  cavalry  and  infantry 
shone  bright  as  silver.  Every  regiment,  corps, 
and  squadron  had  its  standards,  colors,  and 
guidons  unfurled ;  and,  while  the  infantry 
marched  steadily  onward  with  a  most  perfectly 
marked  and  cadenced  step,  the  cavalry  moved 
with  the  regularity  and  precision  it  would 
have  observed  in  an  ordinary  field  review. 

Our  lines,  meanwhile,  were  standing  quietly 
in  position.  Not  a  word  was  spoken,  except- 
ing now  and  then,  when  some  subdued  ex- 
pression of  admiration  at  the  magnificent 
appearance  of  the  enemy  and  the  coolness 
with  which  they  came  forward  to  the  combat, 
would  involuntarily  escape  the  lips  of  our 
brave  and  determined  men. 

It  was  a  time  never  to  be  forgotten,  that 
short  period  which  intervened  between  the 
final  dispositions  and  the  moment  of  attack. 
The  morning  was  unusually  bright  and  clear  ; 
the  sunlight  seemed  to  cover  with  flashing  dia- 
monds the  burnished  weapons  and  appointments 
of  the  Mexicans  •  while  a  cool  and  invigorating 


BATTLE     OF      BUENA     VISTA.  57 

breeze  displayed  every  flag,  and  sported  with 
the  gaudy  and  fluttering  pennons  of  what 
appeared  to  be  a  countless  forest  of  lances. 
The  sharp  rattle  of  musketry,  the  sullen  reply 
of  the  deadly  rifle,  and  the  bugle-calls,  inter- 
mingled with  the  shouts  of  those  who  were 
desperately  struggling  high  up  the  mountain, 
came  down  upon  the  ear  with  an  eloquent 
distinctness.  All  these  circumstances,  taken 
in  connection  with  the  roar  of  their  cannon, 
and  the  rushing  sound  of  the  balls  as  they 
tore  up  the  ground  in  the  midst  of  us,  or  went 
screaming  through  the  air  above  us,  will  come 
vividly  back  to  the  memory,  until  they  shall 
be  old  men,  who,  for  the  first  time,  were 
standing  silently  there  to  await  the  rude 
shock  of  battle. 

Major  Mansfield,  of  the  Engineers,  having 
reconnoitred  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
from  an  advanced  point,  and  ascertained  the 
presence  and  exact  position  of  General  Pache- 
co's  division,  came  back  with  the  intelligence  ; 
when  Inspector-General  Churchill  rode  to  the 
left  of  the  plateau/ L)  and  informed  General 
Lane,  that  the  enemy  was  then  coming  up, 
and  across  the  main  ravine  in  front.  General 
Lane,  at  this  moment,  was  the  ranking  officer 


58  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

on  the  plateau  ;  as  General  Wool,  after  super- 
intending in  person  the  posting  of  all  the 
troops  and  the  final  arrangements  for  battle, 
had  a  few  minutes  before  gone  down  to  La 
Angostura,  to  see  that  every  thing  was  in 
readiness  for  repelling  the  first  column  under 
General  Mora  y  Villamil,  then  on  the  march  to 
attack  that  point.  General  Lane,  therefore,  im- 
mediately ordered  forward  Lieutenant  O'Brien, 
with  his  three  pieces  of  artillery,  and  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Indiana  Volunteers  to 
support  him.  This  force  advanced  over  two 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  all  the  other  troops, 
and,  having  turned  the  head  of  the  third 
gorge,  was  halted  ;  when  Lieutenant  O'Brien 
placed  his  section  in  battery,  and,  immediately 
afterwards,  the  column  of  companies  displayed 
into  line  on  his  left,  the  front  being  changed 
diagonally  forward  towards  the  road.(3) 

General  Pacheco's  infantry  had,  by  this 
time,  begun  to  ascend  from  the  ravine,  and 
were  forming  in  successive  lines  across  the 
narrow  ridge  which  divides  it  from  the 
gorge  ; (a>  his  lancers  still  remaining  behind, 
under   cover.*     General    Lane's   infantry  had 

*  This  is  the  time  (nine  o'clock,  A.  M.)  selected  to  repre- 
sent on  the  annexed  Plan  of  the  Battle  the  position  of  our 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  59 

hardly  completed  its  line,  before  it  was  opened 
upon  by  the  Mexicans,  then  distant  about 
two  hundred  yards.  They  were  answered 
with  promptness  and  great  effect ;  and  Lieu- 
tenant O'Brien's  guns,  which  were  admirably 
served,  swept  down  whole  platoons  of  them  at 
a  discharge.  The  disparity  between  the  two 
forces  then  engaged  was  at  least  ten  to  one  in 
favor  of  the  enemy ;  and  General  Lane,  in 
addition  to  the  lire  of  the  troops  in  his  front, 
was  nearly  enfiladed  by  the  8-pounder  battery 
on  his  left,  which  had  now  got  so  completely 
the  range,  that  almost  every  shot  took  effect 
in  his  ranks.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  con- 
tinued the  unequal  conflict  for  twenty-five 
minutes.  During  that  time,  the  front  lines 
of  General  Pacheco's  division  were  repeatedly 
thrown  into  confusion ;  the  whole  of  the  new 
corps  of  Guanajuato,  which  formed  its  advance, 

own  and  the  enemy's  troops  ;  as  it  is  considered  to  have 
been  the  moment  when  the  grand  conflict  commenced. 
Colonel  Davis's  Mississippi  Riflemen,  Colonel  May's 
Squadron  of  2d  Dragoons,  Captain  Albert  Pike's  Squad- 
I  ron  of  Arkansas  Mounted  Volunteers,  and  a  piece  of 
artillery  under  Lieutenant  Kilburn,  being  on  the  march 
from  Saltillo,  were  not  at  this  exact  time  near  enough 
to  the  field  of  battle  to  be  included  within  the  space 
covered  by  the  Plan. 


60  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

being  either  killed  or  dispersed.  But,  by  his 
successive  formations,  he  was  enabled  rapidly 
to  supply  the  places  of  those  destroyed,  and  to 
present  a  continuous  sheet  of  fire.  General 
Lane  now  determined  to  get  out  of  the  range 
of  the  battery  on  his  left,  by  pushing  still 
farther  down  the  ridge  ;  hoping,  at  the  same 
time,  to  force  General  Pacheco  back  into  the 
ravine.  He,  accordingly,  directed  Lieutenant 
O'Brien  to  limber  up,  and  advance  some  fifty 
or  sixty  yards  farther  to  the  right  and  front ; 
which  being  promptly  done,  the  pieces  were 
again  placed  in  battery  and  commenced  the 
slaughter. 

At  this  time,  General  Lane,  being  himself 
on  the  left  of  the  2d  Indiana  Volunteers, 
which  were  also  to  move  forward  and  sustain 
Lieutenant  O'Brien,  had  the  mortification  to 
see  the  companies  breaking  off,  one  by  one, 
from  the  right,  and  retreating  in  great  confu- 
sion ;  Colonel  Bowles,  who  commanded  the 
regiment,  having  given,  without  his  authority 
or  knowledge,  the  order,  "  Cease  firing,  and 
retreat!''''  Nothing  could  have  been  more 
unfortunate.  For,  if  General  Lane's  purpose 
had  been  promptly  responded  to  by  this  regi- 
ment, which  up  to  that  moment  had  behaved 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  61 

with  great  gallantry,  it  is  more  than  probable 
that  General  Pacheco's  division  Avould  have 
been  cut  up  in  time  to  allow  us  to  engage 
with  our  other  and  fresh  troops  that  of  Gen- 
eral Lombardini,  before  he  could  have  crossed 
the  ravine  above  and  gained  the  plateau.  If, 
instead  of  retreating,  these  troops  had  pressed 
vigorously  forward,  the  success  of  the  day 
would  have  been  more  complete;  and  there 
cannot  be  a  doubt  but  that  hundreds  of  val- 
uable lives  would  have  been  spared,  which 
were  afterwards  sacrificed  to  regain  the  many 
and  great  advantages  we  lost  in  consequence 
of  this,  to  say  the  least,  ill-timed  order.* 
Had  it  not  been  given,  the  patriotic  state  of 
Indiana,  by  a  single  effort  of  one  of  her  regi- 
ments, would  have  been  covered  with  glory .f 

*  It  is  but  justice  to  state,  that,  among  officers  of  long 
experience,  the  belief  is  entertained,  that  the  prime  fault 
was  one  of  rashness,  and  want  of  judgment,  in  placing 
this  force  in  a  position,  which,  they  contend,  neither  this 
nor  any  other  regiment  could  have  maintained,  —  a  posi- 
tion, moreover,  which,they  assert,  it  was  not  necessary  to 
hold  as  one  upon  which  others  depended ;  and  that  Gen- 
eral Lane  should  be  made  to  bear  a  part  of  the  odium 
which  the  regiment  could  not  escape.  Other  officers  of 
equal  experience  express  the  contrary  opinion,  as  set  forth 
in  the  text. 

f  "About  3000  infantry,  and  a  supporting  force  of  caval- 


62  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

General  Lane  and  his  staff  endeavored,  by 
every  possible  inducement,  to  rally  the  men 
again,  but  all  without  avail.  They  precipi- 
tately fled,  leaving  the  intrepid  O'Brien,  and 
his  gallant  subordinate,  Lieutenant  Bryan,  en- 
tirely without  support.  For  some  minutes 
they  held  on  to  their  position,  single-handed  ; 
their  pieces,  charged  with  two  canisters  at  a 
time,  sending  scores  on  scores  of  the  ene- 
my into  eternity.  The  Mexicans,  however, 
maintained  their  ground  with  great  spirit,  and 
soon  cut  up  Lieutenant  O'Brien's  men  and 
horses  to  such  a  degree,  that,  when  he  was 
finally  pressed  upon  by  the  whole  of  the  im- 
mense force  arrayed  against  him,  he  was 
compelled  reluctantly  to  limber  up  two  of  his 
guns,  and  retire  from  the  point  he  had  so 
nobly  defended.  He  was  obliged  to  leave 
the    other   piece,  —  the  4-pounder,  —  in   the 

ry,  commanded  by  General  Pacheco,  moved  up  to  take  this 
height,  and  at  nine  a  heavy  fire  was  opened.  The  cav- 
alry charged  at  the  same  moment.  [Not  tJiefact.']  Many  of 
our  corps  acted  badly,  but  much  havoc,  nevertheless,  was 
made  among  the  enemy,  and  the  heights  were  carried  by 
force  of  arms.  We  lost  many  men,  and  the  new  corps  of 
Guanajuato  was  dispersed.     If,  at  that  juncture,  we  had 

BEEN    ATTACKED    WITH    VIGOR,    WE     SHOULD    PROBABLY    HAVE 

been  defeated."  — Mexican  Engineer's  Report. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  63 

hands  of  the  enemy ;  not,  however,  until  ev- 
ery man  and  horse  belonging  to  it  had  been 
either  killed  or  disabled. 

General  Pacheco  immediately  followed  up 
the  advantage  he  had  purchased  at  so  much 
cost ;  his  cavalry  advanced  from  its  cover,  and 
pressed  forward  on  the  right  of  his  infantry  ; 
while  General  Lombardini  succeeded,  at  the 
same  time,  in  crossing  the  ravine  and  uniting 
with  him.  The  centre  column  was  then  en- 
tire, and  so  formidable  in  numbers  as  to  appear 
completely  irresistible. 

The  2d  Illinois  Volunteers,  under  Colonel 
Bissell,(R)  —  the  squadron  of  1st  Dragoons, 
under  Captain  Steen,(T)  —  and  the  pieces  of 
Lieutenants  Thomas  and  French, — had  re- 
tained their  position,  and  received  a  desultory 
fire  from  a  part  of  General  Pacheco's  infantry, 
which,  during  the  conflict  with  General  Lane, 
had  succeeded  in  getting  shelter  in  the  third 
gorge.  These  troops  were  ordered  to  advance 
to  a  closer  point  just  before  the  Indiana  regi- 
ment gave  way.  Soon  after  they  had  gained 
it,  and  had  come  handsomely  into  action,  the 
enemy's  centre  column  was  complete,  and, 
being  relieved  from  the  resistance  of  General 
Lane's  force,  now  concentrated  its  whole  fire 


04  BATTLE      OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

upon  them.  It  was  returned  with  deliberation 
and  great  effect.  Every  discharge  of  Thom- 
as's and  French's  pieces  caused  their  immense 
masses  to  reel  and  waver,  as  the  balls,  open- 
ing a  wide  and  bloody  path,  went  tearing 
through  them  ;  while  the  rapid  musketry  of 
the  gallant  troops  of  Illinois  poured  a  storm 
of  lead  into  their  serried  ranks,  which  literally 
strewed  the  ground  with  the  dead  and  dying. 

It  being  impossible  for  our  handful  of  regu- 
lar cavalry,  then  on  the  field,  to  gain  any  de- 
cided advantage  by  charging  into  such  an 
overwhelming  force,  where,  in  one  moment, 
it  would  have  been  completely  destroyed,  Cap- 
tain S teen  was  soon  directed  to  remove  it  from 
its  perilous  situation  back  nearly  to  the  ravine 
in  rear.  The  dragoons  had  hardly  fallen 
back,  and  McCulloch's  mounted  Texans(D) 
taken  cover  in  the  head  of  the  first  gorge, 
before  the  enemy,  having  continued  to  ad- 
vance notwithstanding  his  severe  losses,  had 
passed  with  a  large  portion  of  his  troops  be- 
tween the  left  of  the  Illinoians  and  the  moun- 
tain ;  (4)  so  that  that  regiment,  —  or  rather  the 
six  companies  of  it,  — and  the  two  pieces  from 
Sherman's  battery,  were  soon  receiving  a  fire 
in  front,  on  their  left  flank,  and  from  their  left 
and  rear,  at  the  same  moment. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  65 

Inspector-General  Churchill,  who  remained 
with  Colonel  Bisseil,  seemed  at  this  time  to 
be  one  of  the  chosen  marks  for  the  Mexican 
sharp-shooters;  his  horse  being  struck  by 
three  bullets  in  succession,  and  his  reins  cut 
in  two  by  a  fourth.  The  Illinois  troops  had 
ever  been  the  particular  favorites  of  that  gal- 
lant veteran ;  and  he  determined  to  stand  by 
them  personally,  and  see  whether  his  predi- 
lections were  not  based  upon  good  grounds. 
His  pride  in  them  was  fully  gratified  at  be- 
holding the  unflinching  firmness  with  which 
they  maintained  their  position  against  such 
an  immense  host.  At  length,  perceiving  the 
danger  they  were  in  of  being  completely 
surrounded,  he  ordered  Colonel  Bisseil  to  fall 
back  to  a  point  near  the  ravine,  to  prevent 
that  issue.  As  regularly  as  if  on  drill,  Colonel 
Bisseil,  having  directed  the  signal,  "  Cease 
firing,"  to  be  made,  gave  the  command, 
"  Face  to  the  rear  !  Battalion,  about  face  ! 
Battalion,  for  id  ard,  March  !  "  which  was  exe- 
cuted until  the  danger  of  being  outflanked 
was  past,  when  again,  at  the  command  to 
halt,  given  by  Inspector-General  Churchill, 
who  had  walked  his  horse  slowly  in  front  of 
the  retiring  regiment,  these  cool  and  deter- 
5 


66  BATTLE      OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

mined  men  stopped,  faced  about,  and  resumed 
the  fire  with  a  promptness  and  precision  which 
would  have  done  credit  to  any  troops  in  the 
service ;  and  all  under  a  murderous  storm  of 
bullets  from  the  enemy.  Simple  justice  to 
these  brave  fellows  renders  it  necessary  that 
all  the  details  of  their  conduct  on  this  occa- 
sion should  be  given.  Besides,  it  is  an  evi- 
dence of  the  manner  in  which  troops,  in  their 
first  battle,  can  behave,  when  they  have  been 
properly  instructed  and  carefully  disciplined. 
It  is  a  sufficient  encomium  on  them  to  say, 
that  they  had  never  before  been  under  fire, 
and  that  during  the  short  time  they  had  been 
engaged  (twenty  minutes),  they  had  lost,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  no  less  than  eighty,  in- 
cluding officers  and  men.  Lieutenants  Thom- 
as and  French,  —  the  latter  wounded,  —  had 
likewise  been  obliged  to  fall  back  ;  but  they 
soon  came  into  battery  again,  and,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Colonel  Bissell's  regiment,  com- 
menced a  well-directed  fire  at  the  enemy's 
left  flank,  as  he  endeavored  to  cross  the  pla- 
teau and  gain  our  rear. 

Again,  in  justice  to  those  who  thus  manful- 
ly disputed  the  ground,  inch  by  inch,  against 
such  odds,  it  is  necessary,  yet  mortifying,  to 


BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA.      67 

state,  that  four  companies  of  the  Arkansas 
Volunteers/5'  which  had  been  dismounted  and 
ordered  to  the  plateau  a  few  minutes  before 
the  action  began,  retired  almost  at  the  first 
fire,  and  became  so  much  dispersed,  that,  as 
companies,  they  were  not  heard  of  again  dur- 
ing the  battle.  But  a  few  spirited  individuals 
of  the  number  joined  their  own  and  other 
regiments,  and,  for  the  whole  day,  nobly  dis- 
charged their  duty.* 

At  this  moment,  the  thunder  of  the  battery 
below,  at  La  Angostura,  gave  evidence  that 
the  first  column  of  the  enemy,  under  General 
Mora  y  Villamil,  had  got  within  its  range.  The 
rapidity  of  the  firing,  and  the  roar  of  the  can- 
non, which  caused  the  old  mountains  to  groan 

*  It  is  contended  that  these  troops  gave  way  in  conse- 
quence of  the  falling  back  amongst  them  of  Colonel 
Bowles's  regiment.*  That,  as  individuals,  they  were  as 
brave  as  any  men  in  the  world,  cannot  be  doubted  ;  but 
their  being  entirely  without  discipline,  or  any  habit  of 
strict  military  obedience,  and  their  consequent  want  of 
confidence  in  their  leaders  and  in  each  other,  may  be  fairly 
assigned  as  the  principal  reasons  for  their  precipitate  re- 
treat. 


*  In  this  supposition,  an  officer  of  high  rank  in  the  regular  army,  who 
witnessed  the  whole  of  the  operations,  does  not  concur ;  because,  he 
says,  the  Indiana  regiment  did  not,  in  its  flight,  pass  near  these  four 
companies  of  Arkansas  Volunteers. 


68  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

and  quake  with  the  repeated  echoes,  convinced 
our  whole  army  that  the  gallant  Washington 
was  making  good  his  promise  to  defend  that 
point ;  and  many  and  heart-felt  were  the  wild 
hurrahs  that  rent  the  air  in  exultation  at  his 
efforts.  Nothing  could  withstand  the  terrible 
tempest  of  iron  which  he  hurled  into  the 
compact  column  before  him.  The  first  shock 
impeded  its  advance  ;  it  then  wavered  a  mo- 
ment,—  halted, — and  finally  turned  in  con- 
fusion, and  rushed  into  the  mouth  of  the  third 
gorge, (Q-)  and  up  the  great  ravine  in  front, (G>  to 
seek  protection  behind  the  spurs  which  pro- 
jected upon  the  road. 

In  this  splendid  demonstration  of  the  capac- 
ity of  artillery,  and  its  importance  as  an  arm, 
Captain  Washington  completely  repulsed  over 
4000  of  the  flower  of  the  Mexican  army,  and 
convinced  them,  beyond  a  doubt,  of  their  in- 
ability to  force  him  from  his  position.  He  was 
ably  supported  by  his  remaining  three  subal- 
terns, Lieutenants  Brent,  Whiting,  and  Couch, 
who  managed  the  pieces  with  great  skill,  and 
exhibited  superior  courage  and  address  through- 
out the  whole  affair. 

Just  as  Captain  Washington  opened  his  fire, 
Captain  Sherman,  with  his  other  section, (S>  was 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  69 

ordered  up  to  the  plateau.  He  immediately 
came  into  battery  near  the  head  of  the  first 
gorge, <0)  and  opened  his  fire;  Lieutenant  Rey- 
nolds of  his  company  directing  one  of  the 
pieces,  and  the  Captain  himself  the  other.  He 
was  in  a  short  time  supported  by  Colonel 
McKee's  2d  Kentucky  Volunteers,  which,  ac- 
cording to  instructions  given  to  Major  Mans- 
field, had  been  sent  for,  to  come  from  its  posi- 
tion across  the  stream,  and  which  was  brought 
into  action  with  much  spirit  on  his  right. 
In  a  few  minutes  more,  Captain  Bragg,  with 
two  of  his  pieces,  also  came  up,  and,  pass- 
ing to  the  left  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  wheeled 
into  battery,  having  three  of  Captain  Sherman's 
guns  on  his  right,  —  Lieutenant  Thomas's 
being  the  first,  —  and  the  fourth  (Lieutenant 
French's)  at  some  distance  to  his  left.  A 
complete  line  of  artillery  was  thus  formed,  ex- 
tending from  near  the  head  of  the  first  gorge 
to  the  brink  of  the  ravine  in  rear  of  the  pla- 
teau, and  was  supported  by  the  1st  Dragoons, 
the  Second  Regiment  of. Kentucky  Volunteers, 
the  six  companies  of  Colonel  Bissell's  regi- 
ment, and  four  companies  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteers,  under  their  gal- 
lant Colonel  Hardin,  who  came  upon  the  pla- 


70  BATTLE      OF      BUENA     VISTA. 

teau  the  moment  General  Mora  y  Villamil's 
column  had  been  repulsed.  The  direction  of 
the  fire  of  this  whole  force  was  now  toward 
the  mountain  on  our  left.  The  enemy's  sec- 
ond column  had  by  this  time  succeeded  in 
advancing  across  the  whole  plateau  ;  and,  being 
within  good  range,  every  discharge  of  our  ar- 
tillery took  effect  upon  it.  The  firing  on  our 
side  was  now  incessant  and  most  terrible ;  the 
storm  of  iron  and  lead  beating  against  the  dark 
masses  of  the  Mexicans  with  dreadful  fury. 
They,  however,  stood  firm  to  their  work,  and 
for  a  while  returned  the  fire  with  such  deter- 
mined valor,  as  to  elicit  the  admiration  of  all 
who  were  opposed  to  them. 

Meanwhile,  their  cavalry  swept  by  between 
their  infantry  and  the  mountain  at  the  head 
of  the  plateau,  in  rapid  pursuit  of  the  Indiana 
regiment  ;  the  left  of  General  Ampudia's  force 
leaving  the  foot  of  the  slope  on  which  they 
had  been  contending,  and  pressing  forward 
with  them.  Those  of  the  Arkansas  and  Ken- 
tucky Mounted  "Volunteers,  who  had  remained 
near  the  head  of  the  ravine,  were  obliged  im- 
mediately to  give  way  before  this  force,  which 
came  pouring  down  upon  them  from  the  pla- 
teau.    This  movement  interrupted  the  commu- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  71 

nication  between  our  riflemen  in  the  moun- 
tains and  our  main  army.  No  sooner  did  they 
discover  that  the  enemy's  lancers  and  infantry 
had  got  between  them  and  their  friends,  than 
they  immediately  abandoned  their  position, 
and  succeeded  in  forcing  their  way  around  the 
intercepting  column  below,  which  for  a  time 
was  held  in  check  by  the  Arkansas  and  Ken- 
tucky cavalry,  under  Colonels  Yell  and  Mar- 
shall, who,  luckily,  had  been  able  to  make 
a  short  stand  after  they  had  gained  a  little 
plain (6)  in  rear  of  the  ravine  from  which  they 
had  just  been  compelled  to  retire.  In  this 
movement  the  riflemen  suffered  great  loss,  — 
the  Texan  company  being  nearly  destroyed. 
The  rest  of  General  Ampudia's  force  poured 
down  the  mountain  in  hot  pursuit,  and,  unit- 
ing with  the  lancers,  compelled  the  Arkansas 
men,  Kentuckians,  riflemen,  and  all,  to  give 
way  before  them  ;  the  two  former  alternately 
yielding  and  disputing  the  ground,  the  others 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  the  volunteers 
who  had  first  retreated. 

Our  whole  left  had  now  been  forced,  and 
the  enemy  was  in  possession  of  every  advan- 
tage arising  from  the  peculiar  nature  of  the 


72  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

ground ;  the  alternate  ridges  and  ravines  be- 
ing as  much  in  his  favor  as  in  ours. 

It  was  at  this  critical  juncture  that  General 
Taylor  arrived  upon  the  field  *  from  Saltillo, 
having  completed  his  dispositions  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  city.  He  was  accompanied  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  with  the  two  com- 
panies of  the  2d  Dragoons,  and  by  Colonel 
Davis,  with  eight  companies  of  his  Mississippi 
riflemen.  Captain  Albert  Pike,  with  his  own 
company  and  that  of  Captain  John  Preston,  Jr. 
(the  two  united  as  a  squadron),  and  Lieutenant 
Kilburn,  with  one  piece  from  Captain  Bragg 's 
Battery,  had  also  been  ordered  to  the  field 
of  battle  from  below  the  city,  where  they 
had  been  on  detached  duty.  The  Missis- 
sippi riflemen  halted  near  the  hacienda  long 
enough  for  the  men  to  fill  their  canteens  with 
water,  when  they  were  turned  off  from  the 
road  diagonally  to  the  left,  and  advanced  to- 
ward the  point  where  our  troops  were  fast  giv- 
ing ground  to  the  enemy.  The  General  com- 
manding proceeded  on  directly  to  the  plateau,  / 
having  with  him  the  2d  Dragoons.  / 

Up  to  this  time  General  Wool,  being  nexf 
in   command,   had    assigned  the   positions  for 

*  For  the  position  he  assumed,  see  the  Plan  of  the  Battle. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  73 

all  the  troops,  and  conducted  the  "battle  from 
the  beginning  ;  but,  the  moment  General  Tay- 
lor arrived  at  the  front  and  assumed  the  direc- 
tion of  affairs,  he  immediately  started  to  assist 
General  Lane  in  rallying  the  2d  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers, and  to  endeavor  to  restore  something 
like  order  to  our  left,  which  by  this  time  had 
swung  around  so  as  to  face  toward  the  moun- 
tains on  that  side,  and  in  a  direction  perpen- 
dicular to  the  original  line.  The  position  of 
the  batteries  still  in  active  operation  on  the 
plateau,  the  point  of  land  on  which  Colonel 
Hardin  had  thrown  up  a  parapet,  and  Captain 
Washington's  position  at  La  Angostura,  were 
at  this  moment  the  only  portions  of  the  ground 
we  first  occupied,  from  which  we  had  not 
been  driven.  Already  our  loss  in  officers  and 
men  had  been  immense  ;  and  among  them 
was  included  the  gallant  and  chivalrous  Assist- 
ant Adjutant-General,  Captain  George  Lin- 
coln,* one  of  the  most  promising  young  of- 
ficers in   the   army,   and  one  who,  possessing 

*  He  had  been  endeavoring  to  rally  the  2d  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers, by  urging  them,  by  every  thing  men  can  hold 
dear,  to  return  to  their  duty.  Finding  all  his  appeals  of 
no  avail,  he  returned  himself  to  the  conflict  upon  the 
plateau,  when,  just  as  he  arrived  at  the  rear  of  the  2d 
Kentucky  Volunteers,  then  manfully  struggling  with  the 


74  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

every  quality  which  can  adorn  a  gentleman, 
was  admired  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

The  aspect  of  affairs  was  now  most  gloomy, 
and  our  condition  most  critical ;  the  scale  for 
a  short  time  appeared  to  be  preponderating 
against  us,  and  Victory  to  be  deserting  our 
banners  and  winging  her  way  toward  those 
of  the  enemy.  But  the  idea  of  yielding  the 
day  so  long  as  there  was  a  man  left  to  fight, 
never,  for  a  moment,  came  into  the  mind  of 
our  determined  leader  ;  and,  in  his  indomita- 
ble resolution  to  compel  fortune  to  favor  our 
side,  he  was  seconded  by  men,  true  as  the 
steel  they  wore,  and  firm  and  unyielding  as 
the  mountains  around  them. 

The  gallant  Colonel  Davis,  with  his  glori- 
ous Mississippians,  —  men  who  had  been  tried 
in  the  fire  of  the  storming  of  Monterey,  and 
had  stood  the  test  like  pure  gold, — now  moved 
steadily  forward  through  the  broad  current  of 
our  retreating  horse  and  foot.  He  called  loudly 
on  those  who  were  flying  to  come  back  with 
him  and  renew  the  combat.     They  were   few 

enemy,  he  was  shot  in  two  places,  and  instantly  expired. 
Alas  !  how  many  were  the  hearts  which  the  intelligence 
of  his  early  death  penetrated  with  the  deepest  sorrow ! 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  75 

indeed  who  heeded  his  call.  Colonel  Bowles, 
who,  for  some  reason  other  than  lack  of  cour- 
age, had  ordered  his  regiment  to  retreat,  now, 
having  lost  all  hope  of  rallying  it  again,  seized 
a  rifle,  and,  followed  by  a  handful  of  his  men, 
joined  the  Mississippians  as  a  private.  During 
the  whole  day,  he  shared  their  perils,  and  Avas 
distinguished  for  his  personal  bravery.  With 
these  exceptions,  Colonel  Davis's  appeal  was 
of  no  avail.  In  vain  he  told  them,  that  his 
riflemen  were  "  a  mass  of  men  behind  which 
they  could  take  shelter  and  securely  form." 
He  pointed  to  his  regiment,  as  he  said  this. 
It  was  indeed  a  wall  of  heroes.  What  must 
have  been  his  pride  in  commanding  such  men  ! 
What  the  mortification  and  burning  shame  of 
the  fugitives  whom  he  addressed  ! 

Colonel  Davis,  as  he  passed  by  General 
Wool,  who  had  now  arrived  at  this  part  of  the 
ground,  was  promised  support ;  and  the  Gen- 
eral immediately  went  in  person  to  hasten  the 
Third  Indiana  Regiment,  from  the  rear  of  La 
Angostura,  to  his  aid.  But  still  the  Mississip- 
pians moved  onward.  A  large  and  deep  ravine 
passed  by  their  right,  while  another  entered 
this  after  coming  diagonally  across  their  front 
from   the    left ;    the   two  embracing  between 


76  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

them  an  inclined  plane,  which  terminated  at  a 
point  near  their  junction  (at  this  moment  but 
a  short  distance  in  advance  of  the  regiment). 
but  which  was  quite  broad,  and  easy  to  be 
gained,  at  its' upper  and  farther  extremity  near 
the  mountains.  On  this  plane, (8)  most  of 
Ampudia's  light  division  was  now  moving 
down,  flanked  by  cavalry,  and  supported  by 
reserves  of  the  heavy  infantry.*  The  3d 
Indiana  Volunteers  had  not  yet  had  time  to 
come  up,  and  it  was  all-important  that  the 
enemy  should  be  checked,  before  he  could 
effect  a  passage  of  the  only  ravine  which 
would  seriously  retard  his  course  onward  to 
the  road.  Flushed  with  success,  and  apparent- 
ly irresistible  in  numbers,  he  came  down  like 
an  avalanche.  Then  it  was  that  Davis  and 
his  followers  surpassed  all  their  former  bril- 
liant efforts.  They  counted  not  the  odds,  — 
they  waited  for  no  support ;  but,  thrown  rapid- 
ly into  order  of  battle,  they  pressed  forward 
like  Spartans;  and,  although  the  air  was  filled 
with  the  sharp  hissing  of  a  shower  of  lead, 
which  came  hurtling  on,  and  cutting  through 
their  ranks  with  dreadful  effect,  still  they  did 

*  The  same  that,  before  day,  had  reenforced  it  against 
our  riflemen. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  77 

not  pause  until  they  had  brought  the  enemy 
within  close  range  of  their  own  unerring 
weapons.  Then  their  little  line  blazed  forth  a 
sheet  of  fire.  The  shock  given  by  it  to  the 
head  of  the  enemy's  column  was  most  awful. 
Men  went  down  before  it  as  ripe  grain  falls 
before  the  reaper.  Still  the  enemy  came  on- 
ward over  his  dead,  and  still  forward  pressed 
the  riflemen,  —  the  latter  a  handful,  the 
former  a  host.  At  length  they  paused  ;  the 
Mississippians  on  the  brink  of  the  ravine, (9> 
the  Mexican  light  infantry  on  the  plane  be- 
yond,—  the  cavalry  having  been  driven  to 
cover  on  their  left.  Bat  there  was  no  cessa- 
tion in  the  struggle,  and  Death  still  continued 
to  gather  in  his  bloody  harvest.  It  was  not 
enough  for  the  Mississippians  simply  to  hold 
such  masses  at  bay ;  their  blood  was  up,  and 
the  flight  of  the  enemy  alone  could  satisfy 
them.  Giving  one  loud  yell  of  defiance, 
which  rang  on  the  ear  more  like  the  roar  of 
angry  lions  than  the  shout  of  men,  they  again 
rushed  forward.  A  moment,  and  they  were 
lost  from  the  view  of  their  antagonists.  It 
was  only  a  moment ;  but  in  it  they  had 
dashed  into  the  ravine,  clambered  up  the  op- 
posing wall,  and  now  stood  before  the  Mexi- 


78  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

cans  upon  their  own  side.  For  a  few  minutes 
more,  the  carnage  was  terrible.  At  length, 
bloody  and  torn,  the  column  of  Ampudia  lost 
its  steadiness ;  its  fire  slackened ;  then  all 
organization  was  gone  ;  its  ranks  were  resolved 
into  a  confused  multitude,  which  in  a  moment 
crumbled  away,  the  whole  fleeing  precipitately 
back  to  the  reserves. 

The  Mississippians  then  turned  to  the  right, 
to  beat  up  the  cover  of  what  had  been  the 
flanking  cavalry  of  this  column.  They  found 
it  attempting  to  cross  the  ravine  on  that  hand, 
in  order  to  attack  them  in  reverse.  A  few  only 
had  crossed,  —  their  commander  among  them, 
—  but  they  never  went  back  ;  and  those  who 
were  pressing  down  to  succeed  them,  received 
a  fire  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  withstand. 
They,  too,  gave  way,  and  fled  back  to  the 
point  whither  the  light  infantry  had  retreated, 
and  where  they  were  now  just  forming  again. 

For  a  little  while,  this  part  of  the  field  ap- 
peared to  be  comparatively  safe,  and,  by  the 
determined  valor  of  one  small  regiment,  an 
imminent  peril  to  our  whole  army  seemed  to 
be  averted.  The  Mississippians  gathered  up 
their  wounded,  and,  taking  them  to  the  rear 
of  the    first   ravine    they    had   crossed,   there 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  79 

formed  again  in  line  of  battle.  They  were 
then  joined  by  the  3d  Indiana  Volunteers, 
under  Colonel  Lane,  and  by  Lieutenant  Kil- 
burn  with  one  piece  of  artillery.  The  fire 
of  this  combined  force  caused  those  who  had 
just  before  contended  with  Colonel  Davis's 
regiment  to  fall  back,  for  a  short  time,  still 
farther,  and  beyond  range. 

While  all  this  was  doing,  other  large  masses 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry (10)  had  kept  along 
under  the  base  of  the  mountains,  farther  to- 
ward Saltillo,  and.  having  crossed  many  diffi- 
cult ravines  near  their  sources,  moved  down 
directly  toward  Buena  Vista,  passing,  however, 
more  than  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  General 
Ampudia's  column.  They  had  in  front  of 
them  Colonel  Yell's  and  Colonel  Marshall's 
Mounted  Volunteers;00  too  few  to  offer  suc- 
cessful resistance,  yet  endeavoring  to  maintain, 
point  after  point,  the  ground  they  were  forced 
to  yield.*  Seeing  this,  General  Taylor  ordered 
the  handful  of  cavalry,  then  near  him  on  the 
plateau,  to  move  rapidly  to  the  rear,  in  order  to 
assist  in  repelling  this  force.     It  was  all  united 

*  Had  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  (mounted)  volun- 
teers never  been  allowed  horses,  they  would  have  been 
able  to  make  a  stand,  on  this  occasion,  as  veil  as  the  Mis- 
sis sippians. 


80  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

in  one  column,  under  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel May,  and  was  composed  of  four  companies 
of  regular  Dragoons,  viz.  one  under  Lieu- 
tenant Rucker,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Buford, 
one  under  Lieutenant  Carleton,  assisted  by 
Lieutenant  Whittlesey  and  Lieutenant  Evans, 
one  under  Lieutenant  Campbell,  and  one  under 
Lieutenant  Givens ;  besides  Captain  Pike's  and 
Captain  Preston's  companies  of  Arkansas  Mount- 
ed Volunteers.  This  column  moved  to  the  left, 
passing  some  distance  in  rear  of  the  Missis- 
sippi regiment,  and  then  established  itself  on 
the  right  of  Colonel  Marshall's  men ;  Colonel 
Yell,  with  his,  being  on  the  left.  The  force, 
thus  accumulated,  immediately  stopped  the 
enemy,  and  caused  him  to  fall  back  again 
near  the  mountains.  As  he  could  not  now  be 
reached  by  our  Dragoons,  except  in  detail, 
owing  to  the  impossibility  of  crossing  several 
intervening  ravines,  otherwise  than  by  one  or 
two  paths  only  wide  enough  for  one  horse  to 
pass  at  a  time,  Colonel  May  despatched  Lieu- 
tenant Evans,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  with  a 
message  to  General  Taylor,  requesting  some 
pieces  of  artillery. 

While  our  cavalry  force  was  thus  holding 
that  of  the  enemy  in  check,  and  while  the 
Mississippi  Riflemen,  and   3d  Indiana  Volun- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  81 

teers,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Kilburn,  were 
engaged  with  the  troops  under  General  Am- 
pudia,  General  Wool  was  making  every  effort 
to  rally  our  men  who  had  first  given  way  ; 
and  General  Lane,  though  wounded  and  bleed- 
ing, was  also  endeavoring  to  gather  up  the 
scattered  fragments  of  the  regiment  with  which 
he  had  opened  the  battle.  In  this  they  were 
ably  assisted  by  Inspector-General  Churchill, — 
by  Major  Monroe,  of  the  Artillery,  —  and  like- 
wise by  Captain  Steen,  of  the  1st  Dragoons, 
who  fell,  severely  wounded,  while  on  this  duty. 
None,  however,  were  so  successful  in  arresting 
their  flight,  as  the  intrepid  Major  Dix,  of  the 
Pay  Department.  Having  ridden  rapidly  in 
amongst  them,  he  seized  the  standard  of  the 
2d  Indiana  Volunteers,  and  then  called  to 
the  men,  and  asked  them  if  they  would  desert 
their  colors.  He  told  them  that  they  had 
sworn  to  protect  them,  and  now,  if  they  were 
still  determined  to  do  so,  they  must  return 
with  him  to  the  fight.  He  swore  to  them, 
that,  with  God's  help,  he  would  not  see  the 
state  of  Indiana  disgraced  by  having  her  flag 
carried  out  of  battle  until  it  could  be  carried 
out  in  triumph ;  and  that  back  into  it  again 
it  should  go,  if  he  had  to  take  it  there  and 
6 


82  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

defend  it  alone.  This  touched  the  hearts  of 
many  of  those  who  were  within  the  sound 
of  his  voice.  It  seemed  to  banish  the  panic 
which  had  fallen  upon  them  ;  they  were  them- 
selves again  :  they  rallied,  thought  of  their 
homes,  gave  three  cheers  for  Indiana,  and 
again  gathered  around  her  flag.  Captain  Lin- 
nard,  of  the  Topographical  Engineers,  who 
had  been  very  active  in  seconding  Major  Dix 
in  his  appeal  to  these  men,  and  in  putting 
them  in  order  as  they  came  together,  now  got 
a  drum  and  fife,  and  directed  the  national  quick- 
step to  be  played,  when  the  word  was  given 
to  move  on.  Major  Dix  then  led  off  with  the 
flag,  while  the  gallant  Captain  brought  up  the 
rear  ;  and  in  this  way,  taking  a  direction  to- 
ward Colonel  Davis's  and  Colonel  Lane's  regi- 
ments, back  again  they  went  into  battle.*  All 
the  rest  continued  their  flight ;  most  of  them 
to  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Yista,  but  many 
even  to  the  city  of  Saltillo,  where  they  re- 
ported that  all  was  lost,  and  our  army  in  full 
retreat.  The  reader  should  bear  in  mind,  that, 
while  all  this  was  taking  place  to  the  left  and 
rear,  the  battle  raged  with  desperate  fury  on 
the  plateau.  This  great  centre  of  the  conflict 
was  now  under  the  eye  and  immediate  direc- 
*  See  Appendix,  D. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  ti.' 

tion  of  the  respective  commanders  of  the  two 
opposing  armies. 

Santa  Anna,  finding  it  was  impossible  fo1 
the  infantry  of  his  centre  column  to  drive 
back  our  line  of  artillery  under  Sherman  and 
Bragg,  and  its  supporting  force  under  Hardin, 
Bissell,  and  McKee,  hurried  up  the  Battalion 
de  San  Patricio,*  with  a  battery  of  18  and  24- 
pounders ;  and,  with  incredible  exertions,  he 
succeeded  in  bringing  it  around  the  heads  of 
the  large  ravine  in  front,  and  along  the  steep 
sides  of  the  spurs  of  the  mountain,  where  the 
battle  first  opened,  and  thence  down  to  the 
very  point (L)  occupied  by  O'Brien's  section 
before  he  moved  forward  in  the  morning.  Its 
fire  now  enfiladed  the  whole  plateau  ;  being 
directed  from  its  upper  edge  toward  the  road. 

Even  with  this  additional  strength,  the  cen- 
tre column  could  not  clear  the  plateau,  but 
was  itself  compelled  to  give  ground  before  the 

*  This  Battalion  of  Saint  Patrick  was  composed  of  some 
of  the  Irish  soldiers  who  had  deserted  from  the  American 
army  and  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  It  was  commanded  by 
a  man  named  Riley,  also  a  deserter.  Subsequently,  the 
whole  battalion  was  taken  in  one  of  the  battles  in  front  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  and  sixty  of  them  were  hung  near  Che- 
ptdtepec.  The  Irishmen  in  our  army,  who  had  remained 
true  to  their  colors,  were  the  most  clamorous  for  their  exe- 
cution. 


84  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

withering  effects  of  the  iron  poured  into  it  by 
our  light  artillery.  At  length,  being  broken 
near  its  centre,  one  half  pushed  over  the  ravine 
in  rear,  and  in  a  direction  to  reenforce  the 
troops  under  General  Ampudia ;  while  the  other 
half,  except  the  corps  of  Sappers  and  Miners, 
which  stood  firm  by  the  battery,  fell  back  to- 
ward the  ravine  in  front,  bearing  with  them 
Santa  Anna  himself,  whose  horse  had  been 
shot  down  under  him.  The  moment  this  lat- 
ter half  began  to  move,  Hardin,  Bissell,  and 
McKee,  with  their  respective  commands,  dash- 
ed gallantly  forward  to  a  point  within  close 
musket-shot,  when  they  opened  their  fire,  and 
followed  up  the  enemy  with  great  slaughter 
until  he  became  covered  by  the  ravdne.  Being 
then,  in  turn,  threatened  by  the  cavalry  which 
had  flanked  General  Mora  y  Villamil's  column, 
they  fell  back  to  the  heads  of  the  first  and 
second  gorges  in  their  rear  ;  Colonel  Hardin's 
command  going  to  the  support  of  Captain 
Bragg's  section,  which,  in  the  mean  time,  had 
limbered  up  and  come  into  battery  again,  far 
in  advance (12)  of  its  first  position. 

Lieutenant  O'Brien  had  by  this  time  come 
back  on  the  plateau  once  more.  He  had  been 
obliged    (not   having   a    single    cannoneer  to 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA.  85 

work  the  guns)  to  go  down  to  La  Angostura 
with  the  section  he  had  been  able  to  bring  off, 
in  order  to  procure  a  fresh  one  of  two  6-pound- 
.  ers,  which  Captain  Washington  gave  him  in 
exchange  ;  and,  although  Lieutenant  French,  in 
consequence  of  his  wound,  had  been  compelled 
to  give  up  the  command  of  his  gun,  it  fell 
into  good  hands,  and  was  kept  actively  em- 
ployed under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Gar- 
nett,  one  of  the  aides-de-camp  of  General  Tay- 
lor. So  that  there  were  now  eight  pieces  on 
the  plateau  alone. 

As  our  left  was  now  the  most  seriously  men- 
aced, not  only  by  the  forces  which  had  turned 
it  in  the  beginning  of  the  battle,  but  likewise 
by  more  than  half  of  the  enemy's  centre  col- 
umn, General  Taylor  ordered  Captain  Sher- 
man and  Captain  Bragg,  each  with  a  section 
of  his  battery,  to  proceed  there  and  strength- 
en it.  This  left  on  the  plateau  Lieutenant 
O'Brien  with  his  two  pieces,  and  Lieutenants 
Thomas  and  Garnett,  each  with  one.  As  oc- 
casion seemed  to  render  it  necessary,  the  fire 
of  these  four  guns  was  directed,  now  toward 
the  front,  now  toward  the  battery  at  the  head 
of  the  plateau,  and  now  toward  the  heavy 
masses  threatening  our  left  and  rear,  and 
always  with  marked  effect, 


86  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VJSTA. 

The  position  of  affairs  was  at  this  time,  in 
brief,  as  follows : 

The  enemy's  reserve  kept  its  ground  in 
front.  His  battery  near  the  road,  and  likewise 
his  8-pounder  battery,  still  continued  to  play 
respectively  upon  Washington  at  La  Angostu- 
ra, and  upon  the  plateau.  The  third  gorge 
and  the  ravine  in  front  of  the  plateau  were 
filled  by  his  first  and  a  part  of  his  second 
columns  of  attack,  held  in  check  by  the  1st 
and  2d  Illinois  Volunteers  and  the  2d  Ken- 
tucky Regiment,  stationed  in  and  near  the 
heads  of  the  first  and  second  gorges,  and  sup- 
porting the  four  pieces  under  O'Brien,  Thom- 
as, and  Garnett.  These  pieces  had  the  ene- 
my's 18  and  24-pounder  battery  directly  op- 
posite to  them,  and  still  close  under  the  moun- 
tain at  the  head  of  the  plateau/ L)  The  rest 
of  the  enemy's  second  column,  all  of  his  third, 
and  the  heavy  bodies  of  his  cavalry  which 
had  turned  our  left,  stretched  along  near  the 
base  of  the  mountains  on  that  flank,  in  an  ir- 
regular line,  and  faced  toward  the  road  ;  the 
infantry  and  a  portion  of  the  cavalry  were 
upon  the  left/ 13)  nearest  the  plateau;  while 
the  most  of  the  cavalry  and  a  small  portion 
of  the  infantry  were  on  the  right/"5  and  near- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  b7 

ly  opposite  Buena  Vista.  Against  this  latter 
part  of  the  enemy's  forces,  we  had  also  an 
irregular  line.  The  right  of  it  was  composed 
of  the  pieces05'  under  Sherman,  Bragg,  Rey- 
nolds, and  Kilburn,  scattered  along  at  uncer- 
tain intervals,  and  having,  as  their  nearest  sup- 
port, Colonel  Davis's  and  Colonel  Lane's  regi- 
ments, together  with  such  of  the  volunteers 
of  other  corps,  whether  of  horse  or  of  foot, 
as  had  up  to  this  time  been  rallied  and  brought 
back  into  the  battle.  The  left(U)  consisted  of 
the  four  companies  of  the  1st  and  2d  Dragoons, 
Pike's  and  Preston's  companies,  all  that  re- 
mained of  Colonel  Marshall's  mounted  men, 
and  also  the  fragment  of  Colonel  Yell's  regi- 
ment, which  was  on  the  extreme  left. 

Following  up  these  various  positions,  the 
reader  cannot  fail  to  observe,  that  the  whole 
scene  of  combat  now  extended  over  a  space 
of  ground  upwards  of  two  miles  in  length, 
by  nearly  a  mile  in  breadth. 

For  a  long  while  the  conflict  was  continued 
without  any  decided  success  on  the  part  of 
either  army ;  and  the  whole  field,  during  this 
period,  might  be  compared  to  an  intricate 
game  of  chess,  the  Pass  at  La  Angostura,  de- 
fended by  Washington,  being  the  key  to  our 


88  BATTLE     OF     B  U  E  N  A     VISTA. 

position.  If  this  were  carried,  we  were  irre- 
trievably checkmated,  and  the  game  was  lost. 

Had  the  enemy  at  this  time  brought  up  his 
powerful  reserve,  and  gathered  around  it  the 
scattered  portions  of  his  first  column,  it  would 
have  required  all  our  artillery  under  Sherman, 
Bragg,  and  O'Brien,  and  the  infantry  then 
on  the  plateau,  to  maintain  it  ;  while  his  su- 
periority in  numbers  in  rear  might,  probably 
would,  have  beaten  our  forces  there,  and  then 
been  at  liberty  to  overpower  Washington  by 
attacking  him  in  reverse,  or  to  move  on,  carry 
Saltillo,  and  get  possession  of  all  our  stores 
and  ammunition  there  ;  either  of  which  move- 
ments would  eventually  have  destroyed  us. 
But  from  some  unaccountable  motive,  or  blind 
fatality,  he  allowed  most  of  his  army,  still  in 
our  front,  to  remain  comparatively  inactive  ; 
and  that  too,  in  one  of  the  most  critical  con- 
ditions of  the  battle.  By  doing  this,  he  al- 
lowed General  Taylor  time  and  opportunity 
to  strengthen  his  left  with  artillery  from  the 
plateau.  The  latter  promptly  seized  the  great 
advantage  afforded  by  this  fault,  as  has  already 
been  shown  ;  and  now,  for  a  season,  the  bal- 
ance preponderated  slightly  in  our  favor. 

About  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  Colonel  May's 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  89 

column  of  Dragoons  Avas  ordered  to  return 
from  the  left  to  the  plateau.  Large  masses  of 
the  enemy's  line,  extending  along  the  base  of 
the  mountain,  soon  afterward  began  to  give 
way  before  the  destructive  artillery  fire,  then 
concentrated  upon  it,  and  the  determined  re-N 
sistance  of  the  Mississippi  Riflemen  and  the  3d  | 
Indiana  Volunteers.  Some  of  their  corps  nov 
attempted  to  return  to  the  main  army  in  front. 
Seeing  this,  General  Taylor  detached  the  two 
companies  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  to  proceed  up 
the  deep  ravine  (16>  in  rear  of  the  plateau,  and 
there  to  charge  into  and  disperse  them.  These 
companies  had  hardly  started  on  this  service, 
before  it  was  observed  that  a  brigade  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  mostly  lancers,  had  succeed- 
ed in  crossing  the  difficult  ravines  which  lay 
between  it  and  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky 
Mounted  Volunteers,  and,  having  forced  the 
latter  to  give  ground,  was  evidently  meditating 
a  descent  upon  our  baggage  train,  now  parked 
upon  the  road  a  short  distance  below  Buena 
Vista.*      Colonel    May,    with    the    two    com- 

*  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  train,  during  the 
night  of  the  22d,  "was  parked  in  a  hollow,  half  way  from 
the  hacienda  to  La  Angostura.  "When  our  left  gave  way, 
on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  the  poor  teamsters  thought 


90  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

panies  of  2d  Dragoons,  Pike's  squadron,  and 
two  *  pieces  of  artillery,  under  Lieutenant  Rey- 
nolds, was  ordered  by  General  Taylor  to  pro- 
ceed rapidly  to  the  rear  to  support  that  point. 
This  force  had  hardly  started,  before  it  was 
discovered  that  the  two  companies  of  the  1st 
Dragoons,  which  had  proceeded  toward  the 
mountains  on  the  left,  had  come  under  a 
most  withering  fire  of  grape  and  canister  from 
the  18  and  24-pounder  battery  (L)  at  the  head 
of  the  plateau,  which  effectually  covered  the 
retreat  of  the  corps  they  went  to  disperse. 
General  Taylor,  therefore,  caused  them  to  be 
recalled.  In  coming  down  the  plateau  to  the 
position  the  General  occupied,  they  moved 
directly  in  front  of  the  whole  battery,  and 
besides  had  a  cross-fire  of  infantry  on  their 
left    flank.     Many    of   their    men    and    horses 

the  whole  army  defeated,  and  in  full  retreat.  They,  there- 
fore, started  for  the  city,  as  fast  as  their  mules  could  run. 
It  was  with  the  utmost  exertion  that  Captain  W.  W. 
Chapman,  Assistant  Quarter-Master  and  Aide  to  General 
"Wool,  could  stop  them.  He  succeeded,  however,  in  doing 
so,  and  in  parking  the  wagons  about  half  a  mile  below 
Buena  Vista. 

*  Both  belonging  to  Sherman's  Battery;  the  howitzer 
which  French  had,  and  which  Lieutenant  Garnett  after- 
wards commanded  temporarily,  being  one.  This  left  only 
three  upon  the  plateau ;  —  two  under  O'Brien,  and  one 
under  Thomaa. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  91 

were  cut  up,  and  their  guidon  was  shot  away ; 
fortunately,  however,  it  was  soon  afterwards 
recovered.  Running  the  gantlet  of  such  an 
immense  force,  the  wonder  was  how  these  two 
little  companies  escaped  annihilation.  They 
were  immediately  ordered  to  join  Colonel  May 
again,  to  resist  the  attack  threatened  on  the 
depot  at  Buena  Vista,  and  on  the  train  ;  and  they 
proceeded  at  a  gallop  for  that  point,  overtaking 
Lieutenant  Reynolds,  with  his  two  pieces,  on 
the  way.  But,  before  any  of  this  force  could 
reach  the  extreme  left,  the  brigade  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  in  column  of  squadrons/17* 
charged  furiously  into  the  Arkansas  and  Ken- 
tucky Mounted  Volunteers/ 1S)  who  had  formed 
a  line  near  the  spring  in  front  of  the  hacienda. 
The  latter  had  waited  until  the  enemy  came 
within  sixty  yards,  when  they  fired  with  their 
carbines,  but  with  very  trifling  effect.  By  the 
time  their  pieces  were  dropped  and  their  sabres 
drawn,  the  enemy  was  amongst  them  with 
his  lances.  The  melee  was  then  general ;  the 
Americans  and  Mexicans  were  mixed  up  in 
utter  confusion,  the  whole  being  enveloped  in 
a  cloud  of  dust,  and  driving  on  toward  the 
hacienda.  Fortunately,  the  very  men  who 
had  run  off  from  the  field,  and  had  gone  to 


92  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Buena  Vista  for  shelter,  had  been  gathered  up 
by  Major  Monroe,  assisted  by  some  volun- 
teer officers  (Major  Trail  and  Major  Gorman 
among  the  number),  and  had  been  placed  on 
the  tops  of  the  buildings,  and  in  a  large  yard 
surrounded  by  a  thick  adobe  wall.  They 
opened  a  fire  upon  the  Mexican  brigade,  the 
moment  it  had  got  within  range  of  their  mus- 
kets and  rifles,  which  killed  and  wounded  a 
great  number.  The  brigade  then  divided ; 
one  half,  mixed  up  with  Arkansas  and  Ken- 
tucky men,  went  pouring  through  the  narrow 
street  which  separates  the  buildings  of  the 
hacienda,  while  the  other  commenced  falling 
rapidly  back  toward  the  mountains  on  our 
left.  Lieutenant  Reynolds,  being  now  near 
enough  to  reach  the  men  of  this  latter  half, 
came  into  action  ;  and,  having  thrown  a  few 
spherical-case  shot  directly  into  the  midst  of 
them,  he  soon  drove  them  beyond  range.  He 
limbered  up,  and  pushed  on  to  the  hacienda. 
The  Dragoons  under  May,  and  the  1st  Dra- 
goons, had  arrived  there  a  few  minutes  before 
him,  but  too  late  to  strike  the  enemy.  Those 
who  had  fallen  back  toward  the  mountains  on 
the  left  of  the  Pass  were  beyond  reach,  and 
those  who  had  gone  through  the  hacienda  had 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA, 


93 


by  this  time  got  separated  from  the  Arkansas 
and  Kentucky  men,  and  had  gained  the  lower 
level  across  the  stream.  Although  distant,  they 
were  not  out  of  reach  of  Lieutenant  Reynolds's 
guns.  He  had  brought  his  section  into  bat- 
tery just  below  the  hacienda ;  and,  until  they 
had  crossed  the  whole  lower  level,  and  had 
succeeded  in  climbing  the  opposite  mountain, 
and  finally  in  escaping  through  a  small  notch 
near  its  summit,  he  continued  to  play  upon 
them  with  astonishing  accuracy  and  great 
execution. 

In  this  affair,  our  mounted  volunteers  be- 
haved as  well  as  could  have  been  expected, 
and  suffered  much  less,  considering  all  the 
circumstances,  than  could  have  been  imagined 
possible.  The  brigade  that  charged  them, 
one  of  the  best  in  the  Mexican  army,  was 
commanded  by  General  Torrejon,  and  led  on 
by  him  in  person.  It  numbered  about  one 
thousand ;  while  all  that  were  left,  at  this 
time,  of  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  regi- 
ments could  not  have  been  over  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  It  was  in  this  charge  that  the 
gallant  and  distinguished  Colonel  Yell  lost  his 
life.  He  fell  like  a  hero,  far  in  advance  of 
his   men,    and    pierced   with   many   wounds. 


94  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Captain  Porter,  of  his  regiment,  a  brave  man 
and  most  amiable  gentleman,  died  by  his 
side ;  and  Adjutant  Vaughn,  one  of  the  most 
promising  of  the  young  men  of  Kentucky 
and  the  favorite  of  his  regiment,  also  fell, 
fighting  to  the  last.  He  received  twenty-four 
wounds.  Besides  these,  there  were  many  of  the 
best  men  of  the  two  regiments  killed  or  wound- 
ed. General  Torrejon  was  wounded  in  this 
charge,  and  left  thirty-five  of  his  men  dead  upon 
the  field.  The  number  of  his  wounded  was 
not  known,  as  their  comrades  bore  them  away. 
After  the  Mexicans  had  failed  in  their  attack 
on  Buena  Vista,  they  made  a  determined  ef- 
fort to  force  their  way  to  the  road  at  a  point 
nearer  the  plateau.  They  brought  down,  from 
near  the  mountains  opposite  and  to  the  left  of 
the  hacienda,  a  fresh  brigade  of  cavalry,  cov- 
ered by  infantry  in  all  its  passages  of  ravines. 
^With  this  they  advanced  to  engage  the  Missis- 
sippi riflemen,  the  fragment  of  the  2d  Indiana 
Volunteers,  and  the  3d  regiment  of  the  same, 
who  were  still  acting  together,  and  who  had 
near  them  one  howitzer  under  Captain  Sher- 
man. The  position (19)  of  these  troops  was\ 
some  five  hundred  yards  nearer  the  road  than 
the  point  where  Colonel  Davis's  regiment  was 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  95 

first  engaged  in  the  morning,  but  farther  down 
the  same  ravine.  As  soon  as  this  new  brigade 
indicated,  by  the  manner  of  its  approach,  its 
determination  to  charge  our  riflemen  and  in- 
fantry, they  were  rapidly  formed  to  receive  it. 
The  Mississippi  regiment,  in  line  of  battle,  ex- 
tended across  the  little  plain  upon  which  they 
now  were,  —  their  right  being  near  the  ravine, 
their  front  toward  the  mountains ;  the  Indi- 
ana troops  were  formed  so  that  their  left  rested 
on  the  right  of  Colonel  Davis's  regiment,  their 
right  upon  the  ravine  higher  up,  their  front 
being  also  toward  the  mountains,  but  more  to 
the  north.  In  this  way,  an  obtuse  reentering 
angle  was  presented  towards  the  approaching 
cavalry,  Sherman's  howitzer  being  on  its  left. 
The  enemy  was  formed  in  close  column  of 
squadrons,  and  came  down  the  slope  at  an 
easy  hand-gallop.  His  ranks  were  well  closed, 
his  troopers  riding  knee  to  knee,  and  dressing 
handsomely  on  their  guides.  All  the  flags  and 
pennons  were  flying,  —  some  fifteen  hundred 
of  them  ;  —  the  men  were  in  full  uniform,  and 
the  horses  elegantly  caparisoned.  Every  lancer 
sat  erect,  and  kept  his  charger  well  in  hand  ; 
and  the  whole  brigade,  preserving  exactly  its 
intervals  and  the  direction  of  its  march,  moved 


96  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

forward  with  the  ease  and  regularity  of  the 
best  drilled  troops  on  a  field-day.  Had  the 
commander  of  this  beautiful  brigade  desired  to 
win  the  applause  of  both  armies,  he  could  not 
have  put  it  in  better  order,  or  led  his  men  on 
with  more  of  professional  style.  The  tout  en- 
semble of  his  column  was  most  admirable.  It 
had  a  sort  of  air  about  it, —  an  easy,  nonchalant 
manner  of  going  into  the  work,  —  which  could 
not  but  recall  to  one's  mind  his  ideal  pictures 
of  the  cavalry  of  the  olden  days.  Those  fine 
fellows  were  the  chivalry  of  Mexico,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  the  President's  personal 
guard,  —  the  regiment  of  Hussars,  —  they  were 
the  most  dashing  troops  the  Republic  had  ever 
sent  to  the  field.  Opposed  to  them  were  our 
men  on  foot,  —  a  mere  handful  in  comparison, 
and  having  about  them  none  of  the  "pomp 
and  circumstance,"  the  glitter,  and  gold,  and 
feathers,  and  tassels,  of  their  antagonists.  They 
stood  calmly  and  fearlessly  still,  with  their 
pieces  at  a  carry.  But  they,  too,  had  an  air  ; 
one  that  had  mischief  in  it.  Their  ranks  had 
been  thinned  out ;  some  of  their  best  men  had 
fallen.  There  were  even  fathers  standing  there, 
whose  sons  had  gone  down  by  their  sides, 
■ —  their  pet  boys,  whom  they  had  reared  and 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  97 

brought  forth  to  fight  for  their  country.  And 
there  were  sons,  too,  whose  clothes  had  been 
baptized  with  their  fathers'  blood,  not  yet  dry. 
Brothers,  who  had  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder 
in  the  morning,  stood  so  no  more ;  but,  while 
one  lay  stark  and  motionless  upon  the  earth, 
the  other  was  near  by  to  avenge  him.  There 
were  neighbors,  too,  and  friends,  who  had 
grown  up  together  in  school-boy  days.  They 
were  not  yet  separated.  The  survivors  stood 
there,  while  those  who  had  borne  all  these 
tender  relations  to  them  were  strown,  dead 
or  dying,  on  every  hand.  Yet  all  in  sight  they 
lay  ;  —  the  familiar  forms  and  faces  of  those  to 
whom  they  had  been  deeply  attached,  and 
whom  they  had  called  by  their  first  names 
from  infancy.  It  cannot  be  wondered,  then, 
that  these    men  stood  firm. 

It  was  a  sublime,  a  terrible  sight.  The 
troops  on  both  sides  were  so  cool  and  deter- 
mined, that  all  knew  the  struggle  must  be 
sanguinary  and  desperate  in  the  extreme.  Not 
a  word  was  spoken ;  the  din  of  the  surround- 
ing battle  seemed  for  a  moment  hushed ;  the 
rumbling  sound  of  the  earth,  as  the  brigade 
swept  onward  like  a  living  thunderbolt,  appear- 
ed to  be  the  only  audible  manifestation  of  the 
7 


98  BATTLE     OF     BTJENA     VISTA. 

approaching  carnage.  As  the  Mexicans  came 
nearer,  they  evidently  indulged  the  belief,  that 
they  could  draw  the  fire  of  our  men  before  it 
could  be  very  destructive ;  and  that  then,  while 
the  pieces  were  empty,  they  could  overwhelm 
the  slight  barrier  before  them,  and  finish  their 
work  with  the  lance.  But  finding,  on  the 
contrary,  that  not  a  piece  was  discharged  nor 
a  man  moving,  the  whole  brigade  began  in- 
stinctively to  diminish  its  gait.  This  was  a 
fatal  mistake  ;  and,  on  their  side,  it  seemed  a 
pity  it  should  have  been  made,  it  was  so  out  of 
keeping  with  the  skill  indicated  by  their  sol- 
dierly appearance  and  gallant  bearing.  Final- 
ly, instead  of  dashing  forward  in  a  most  splen- 
did charge,  as  they  could  have  done,  having 
the  ground  upon  which  to  execute  it,  they 
had  the  madness  to  pull  up  to  a  walk,  and  at 
length  to  halt  in  the  very  net-work  of  the  two 
lines  of  fire.  The  instant  they  did  so,  the 
pieces  came  down  on  both  faces  of  the  angle, 
as  if  swayed  by  the  same  hand.  For  a  mo- 
ment their  muzzles  moved  slowly  about,  as 
each  man  felt  for  his  aim ;  then  they  settled 
steady  and  firm  as  bars  of  steel.  Now,  like 
the  blast  of  a  trumpet,  the  dreadful  word  was 
shouted,  —  "  Fire  !  "     Two   sheets  of  flame 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  99 

converged  on  that  beautiful  brigade.  It  was 
appalling!  The  whole  head  of  the  column 
was  prostrated,  and  riderless  horses,  a  multi- 
tude, and  crimson  with  blood,  scattered  from  it 
in  every  direction. 

Before  the  Mexicans  could  recover  from  the 
effects  of  this  blow,  Sherman  cut  them  up  with 
grape  and  canister.  Then  came  the  rapid  and 
deadly  firing  by  file,  of  our  riflemen  and  in- 
fantry. No  troops  in  the  world  could  have 
faced  it  without  the  most  awful  sacrifice  of 
life  ;  and  under  it  the  whole  brigade  gave  way, 
and  fled  toward  the  mountains,  leaving  the 
ground  literally  covered  with  its  dead. 

In  this  affair,  had  it  not  been  for  that  unac- 
countable and  suicidal  pulling  up  to  a  halt 
before  a  body  of  the  best  marksmen  in  the 
world,  and  distant  only  eighty  yards ;  —  had 
this  compact  mass  of  cavalry,  in  room  of  doing 
thus,  dashed  at  speed  into  the  angle  before 
them,  they  would  have  lost  many  men,  no 
doubt ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  what  could 
have  saved  the  Mississippi  and  Indiana  troops 
from  total  destruction.  And,  had  so  large  a 
force  broken  through  our  lines,  and,  at  this 
time,  gained  the  road  between  Buena  Vista  and 
La  Angostura,  the  fortunes  of  the  day  would 


100  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

again   have    been  placed  in  a   jeopardy  most 
painful  to  contemplate. 

All  this  time  the  fighting  on  the  plateau  was 
continued  with  but  slight  intermissions,  yet 
without  any  important  advantage  being  gained 
by  either  side.  The  enemy's  batteries  in  front, 
except  at  short  intervals,  kept  busily  at  work ; 
but  our  men  at  La  Angostura,  and  in  the  heads 
of  the  gorges,  sheltered  themselves  as  much  as 
possible,  except  when  the  infantry  or  cavalry 
would  come  within  range  ;  then,  for  a  season,  the 
sharp  roll  of  musketry  would  be  mingled  with 
the  booming  sound  of  cannon,  but  would  again 
subside  to  the  frequent  dropping  shot,  as  the  en- 
emy slowly  fell  back  to  cover.  It  was  on  such 
occasions,  that  loaded  wagons  came  along  near 
those  regiments  and  corps  which,  for  the  mo- 
ment, might  not  be  hotly  engaged ;  and,  having 
supplied  the  men  with  ammunition  and  bread 
and  water,  took  in  all  the  wounded  who  could 
be  gathered  up,  and  returned  with  them  to 
the  rear.  By  causing  the  men,  when  opportu- 
nity offered,  thus  to  be  refreshed,  and  to  have 
their  cartridge-boxes  replenished,  the  General 
was  enabled  to  keep  them  in  a  condition  to 
bear  their  heavy  fatigue,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
in  a  good  state  of  preparation  for  a  protracted 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  101 

use  of  their  weapons.  Besides,  in  this  way 
the  wounded  were  cared  for  without  taking  the 
comhatants  from  the  lines. 

But  the  most  sanguinary  part  of  the  field 
was  still  that  which  was  covered  by  the  forces 
engaged  in  rear  of  the  plateau.  After  the 
enemy's  brigade  of  cavalry  had  been  repulsed 
by  the  artillery,  riflemen,  and  infantry,  under 
Sherman,  Davis,  and  Lane,  very  soon  the  com- 
panies of  the  1st  and  2d  Dragoons,  Lieutenant 
Reynolds  with  his  two  pieces,  Pike's  and  Pres- 
ton's companies,  and  a  few  mounted  and  foot 
volunteers  who  had  been  rallied  at  the  hacien- 
da, were  ordered  by  General  Taylor  to  move 
directly  up  near  the  base  of  the  mountains  on 
the  left,  and  to  drive  in  the  enemy's  right  by 
attacking  him  on  that  flank.  This  force  was 
under  the  direction  of  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel May.  The  Mexicans  soon  began  to  give 
way  before  its  advance,  and  to  keep  along  the 
base  of  the  mountain  toward  the  plateau.  It 
was  while  this  was  doing,  that  a  violent  tem- 
pest of  hail  and  rain,  with  gusts  of  wind,  came 
suddenly  up,  accompanied  by  vivid  lightning 
and    the    most   deafening    peals   of    thunder.* 

*  There  was  something  remarkable  about  this  sudden 
and  furious  tempest.    It  was  in  the  "  dry  season"  ;  and, 


102  BATTLE     OP     BUENA     VISTA. 

But  the  warring  of  the  elements  above  stayed 
not  the  fury  of  the  battle  below.  The  loud 
thunder  and  the  pattering  of  hail  were  answered 
back  by  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  rattling  of 
musketry. 

From  time  to  time,  as  our  cavalry  force  un- 
der Lieutenant-Colonel  May    pressed  heavily 
on  the   right  flank   of  the  enemy,  Reynolds's 
two  pieces  were  brought  into  action,  and  played 
upon  him  until   he  gave  ground,   when  they 
were  quickly  limbered  up,  and  moved  on  again 
to  new  and  closer  positions  ;    being  supported 
on  each  flank  by  the  regular  Dragoons,  with 
Pike's  squadron  to  the  left  of  all.     Meanwhile 
(Captain  Bragg,  with  three  *  pieces  of  his  bat- 
I  tery  without  support,  advanced  upon  the  ene- 
!  my,  midway  between  the  Dragoons   and  the 
(Mississippi    and  Indiana  troops.       The   latter 
]  were  also  pushing  on,  and  supporting,  as  they 
did  so,  Captain  Sherman  with    his   howitzer. 

save  the  slight  shower  during  the  night  succeeding  the 
battle  of  the  22d,  we  had  had  no  rain  before,  and  we  had 
none  for  a  long  time  after.  Some  of  our  army  accounted 
for  it  as  being  the  result  of  the  excessive  firing  during  the 
action.  According  to  Professor  Espy's  theory  of  storms, 
this  may  have  been  the  cause. 

*  By  this  time  Lieutenant  Kilburn's  piece  had  joined 
him. 


BATTLE     OF      BUENA     VISTA.  103 

Our  three  pieces  on  the  plateau  likewise  di- 
rected, for  the  time  being,  their  fire  upon  the 
masses  now  giving  way  before  this  combined 
attack  and  advance  of  our  entire  strength  in 
rear  of  that  position.  Meanwhile  the  whole 
fire  of  the  18  and  24-pounder  battery  of  the 
enemy  was  concentrated  on  our  corps  moving 
up  toward  the  mountains,  and  nearly  enfiladed 
their  lines.  It  was  a  fine  battery,  and  the 
havoc  it  made  in  our  ranks  was  a  melancholy 
evidence  of  the  skill  with  which  it  was  served. 
But  neither  the  effect  of  its  heavy  copper-shot, 
frightful  as  it  was,  nor  the  continuous  fire  of 
musketry  from  those  now  falling  back,  could 
retard  the  steady  advance  of  our  troops.  They 
swept  onward  toward  the  mountains  like  a 
seine,  and  gathered  this  portion  of  the  enemy's 
force  into  a  sort  of  cul-de-sac,  from  which  it 
seemed  impossible  for  it  to  escape.  The  Mex- 
icans, who  were  thus  hemmed  in,  were  played 
upon  by  no  less  than  nine  pieces  of  our  light 
artillery  at  the  same  moment ;  being  the  cen- 
tre of  a  cross  fire  from  Reynolds's  pieces  to 
their  right,  and  O'Brien's  and  Thomas's  pieces 
on  their  left,  while  Sherman  and  Bragg  were 
tearing  them  up  in  front.  Although  at  first 
they  answered  our  troops  by  a  fire  of  musketry, 


104  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA, 

as  the  ground  from  point  to  point  afforded  them 
cover,  yet,  as  they  became  more  condensed, 
and  the  effect  of  our  shot  more  destructive, 
they  grew  panic-stricken.  Then  horse  and 
foot  mingled  together,  and,  without  pausing 
to  resist  the  storm  under  which  they  suf- 
fered, pressed,  on  closer  and  closer  toward 
the  mountain.  These  were  the  men  who  had 
killed  our  wounded,  when  they  drove  us  in  the 
morning.  These  were  the  men  who  took  no 
prisoners,  when  they  might  have  taken  many. 
These  were  the  men  who  left  no  sign  of  life 
in  any  thing  American  which  had  fallen  into 
their  hands,  —  the  men  who  had  stripped  our 
poor  fellows,  and  then  stood  over  them  and 
mutilated  their  remains  in  the  most  horrible 
and  revolting  manner.  They  were  the  men 
who  had  received  the  surrendered  sword  of 
the  Texan  Lieutenant,  Campbell,  a  gallant 
gentleman,  and  then  plunged  it  into  his  bosom. 
These  were  the  men  who  in  the  morning  had 
surrounded  that  grey-haired  man,  Lieutenant 
Price,  of  Illinois,  seventy-two  years  old,*  and 

*  This  old  gentleman  had  been  very  active  in  raising  a 
company  of  the  2d  Illinois  Volunteers,  by  urging  the  young 
men  of  his  county  to  go  to  Mexico  and  assist  General 
Taylor,   Tvho,  he  had  heard,   was  surrounded.      At   last 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  105 

cruelly  forced  their  lances  through  him,  as  if 
for  pastime.  Now  they  were  going  back  over 
the  same  ground  where  all  this  work  had  been 
done.  We  had  but  little  consideration  for 
those  who  had  had  no  pity  for  our  mangled 
and  bleeding  comrades.  And  every  one  knew, 
if  the  battle  finally  went  against  us,  what 
would  inevitably  be  his  own  fate.  All  these 
things  inspired  our  troops  with  a  determination 
never  to  despair  of  victory  ;  and  nerved  them 
to  press  onward  to  the  punishment  of  an  ene- 
my, who,  in  civilized  warfare,  had  set  the  first 
example  of  murdering  wounded  men.  Faster 
and  faster  our  troops  gathered  them  into  that 
little  cove  in  the  side  of  the  mountain.  They 
were  about  5000  or  6000  in  all ;  cavalry  and 
infantry,  mingled  in  confusion  ;  an  armed  mul- 
titude ;  a  mere  chaos  of  men  and  horses,  and 
dead  and  dying,  with  flags,  pennons,  lances, 
and  muskets,  all  mixed  up.  Hundreds  of  them 
endeavored  to  escape  by  clambering  up  the 
steep  sides  of  the  mountains  ;  but  most  of  them 

he  told  them,  that,  to  prove  that  he  would  not  advise 
them  to  go  where  he  dared  not  go  himself,  if  they  would 
give  him  a  commission,  so  that  he  could  be  "mustered  in," 
he  would  accompany  them.  They  elected  him  Second 
Lieutenant,  and  he  fell  a3  above  described.  He  was  much 
beloved,  and  his  fall  was  deeply  lamented. 


106  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

stood  huddled  together,  while  our  shot  went 
crashing  through  them,  and  our  shells  like- 
wise, opening  for  themselves  a  bloody  circle 
wherever  they  exploded. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  President  of 
Mexico  sent  one  of  his  staff  officers,  under  a 
white  flag,  with  a  message  to  General  Taylor, 
desiring  to  know  what  he  wanted.  General 
Wool  was  immediately  directed  to  bear  the 
commanding  General's  reply  to  such  a  singular 
request ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  orders  were 
sent  to  our  batteries  to  cease  firing.  General 
Wool  proceeded  directly  up  to  the  head  of  the 
plateau,  where,  notwithstanding  the  inter- 
change of  flags,  the  18  and  24-pounder  bat- 
tery(L)  still  continued  in  operation  on  our 
troops  in  rear ;  but,  finding  he  could  not  in- 
duce the  Mexican  officers  there  to  cease  their 
fire,  he  declared  the  parley  at  an  end,  and 
returned  to  our  lines,  without  having  had  an 
interview  with  his  Excellency.  While  all  this 
was  going  on,  the  whole  force  which  had 
turned  our  left  succeeded  in  escaping  from 
its  perilous  situation.  Having  recrossed 
the  head  of  the  deep  ravine,  they  passed 
rapidly  along  the  upper  edge  of  the  plateau, 
and,   under  cover  of  their  battery   there,   in 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  107 

spite  of  all  our  exertions,    united  again  with 
the  main  army  in  front. 

Just  before  they  did  so,  however,  and  about 
the  time  the  white  flag  came  in  to  General 
Taylor,  Santa  Anna  caused  his  8-pounder  bat- 
tery to  be  moved  down  to  a  point  nearer  the 
plateau;  and  his  reserves,  under  General  Or- 
tega, were  ordered  forward,  and  formed  in 
the  same  ravine  which  had  been  occupied  by 
General  Pacheco  in  the  morning.  This  large 
body  of  fresh  troops  was  strengthened  by 
those  of  the  first  column  of  attack,  by  the 
Battalion  of  Leon,  and  by  the  Eleventh 
Regiment  of  Infantry.*  The  whole  force 
was  then  placed  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Perez,  and  directed  to  move  forward  ;  the 
cavalry  being  ordered  to  its  left,  to  remain  un- 
der cover  until  our  lines  should  give  way. 
The  approach,  concentration,  and    disposition 

*  "I  had  ordered  trie  battery  of  8-pounders  to  advance 
and  take  trie  enemy  in  flank ;  [?]  and  that  the  column  of 
attack,  then  posted  on  our  left  flank,  where  it  had  no  ob- 
ject of  operation,  should  be  transferred  to  our  right,  and 
there  be  joined  by  the  remains  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment, 
the  Battalion  of  Leon,  and  the  Reserves,  and  all  under 
the  command  of  Brevet  General  Don  Francisco  Perez.  I 
executed  this  in  person,  and  afterwards  sent  for  General 
Mora  y  Villamil,  and  made  him  acquainted  with  my  final 
dispositions,"  —  Santa  Anna's  Report  of  the  Battle. 


108  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

of  this  force,  could  not  be  seen  from  any  part 
of  the  ground  we  then  occupied :  therefore  its 
strength,  proximity,  and  the  point  it  menaced, 
were,  for  the  present,  equally  unknown.  But, 
to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency,  General 
Taylor  sent  orders  to  the  left,  the  moment  the 
Mexican  right  had  effected  its  escape  from  that 
quarter,  for  all  our  troops  there  to  come  for- 
ward, as  quickly  as  possible,  to  the  plateau. 
They  were  now  already  in  motion ;  our 
cavalry  and  artillery  being  obliged  to  go 
'nearly  down  to  the  road  to  avoid  the  ravines, 
whilst  the  Mississippi  and  Indiana  troops  were 
moving  directly  across  them. 

While  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  infantry, 
which  our  left  had  thus  signally  defeated,  was 
moving  in  retreat  along  the  head  of  the  pla- 
teau, O'Brien's  and  Thomas's  pieces  were 
advanced  well  to  the  front,  and  then  came  into 
action,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire  on  them ;  and 
Colonels  Hardin,  Bissell,  and  McKee,  with 
their  Illinois  and  Kentucky  troops,  dashed 
gallantly  forward  in  hot  pursuit.  The  power- 
ful reserve  of  the  Mexican  army  was  just  then 
emerging  from  the  ravine  where  it  had  been 
organized,  and  coming  forward  on  the  pla- 
teau, opposite  the  head  of  the  third  gorge.(a) 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  109 

Those  who  were  giving  way  rallied  quickly 
upon  it ;  when  the  whole  force,  thus  increased 
to  over  12,000  men,  came  forward  in  a  per- 
fect blaze  of  fire.  It  was  a  single  column, 
composed  of  the  best  soldiers  of  the  Republic, 
and  having  for  its  advanced  battalions  the 
veteran  regiments.  The  Kentucky  and  Illi- 
nois troops  were  soon  obliged  to  give  ground 
before  it,  and  to  seek  the  shelter  of  the  second 
gorge. (P)  As  the  Mexicans  pressed  on,  O'Brien 
and  Thomas  opened  upon  them  with  canister, 
instead  of  round  and  hollow  shot.  Being  very 
close,  the  destruction  of  life,  caused  by  their 
three  pieces,  was  immense.  The  advance 
of  this  column,  however,  was  not  retarded ; 
for  they  were  troops  of  the  old  line,  and  were 
accustomed  to  blood.  Arriving  opposite  the 
head  of  the  second  gorge,  one  half  of  this 
column  suddenly  enveloped  it,  while  the  other 
half  pressed  on  across  the  plateau,  having  for 
the  moment  nothing  to  resist  them  but  the 
three  guns  in  their  front.  The  portion,  that 
was  immediately  opposed  to  the  Kentucky 
and  Illinois  troops,  ran  down  along  each  side 
of  the  gorge  in  which  they  had  sought  shelter, 
and  also  circled  around  its  head ;  and  then 
there  was  no  possible  way  of  escape  for  them 


110  BATTLE     OP     BUENA    VISTA. 

except  by  its  mouth,  which  opened  upon  the 
road.  Its  sides  were  steep,  —  at  least,  at  an 
angle  of  forty  degrees,  —  were  covered  with 
loose  pebbles  and  stones,  and  went  to  a  point 
at  the  bottom.  Down  there  were  our  poor 
fellows,  —  nearly  three  regiments  of  them, 
—  with  but  little  opportunity  to  load  or  fire  a 
gun,  being  hardly  able  even  to  keep  their  feet. 
Above,  the  whole  edge  of  the  gorge,  all  the 
way  around,  was  darkened  by  the  serried 
masses  of  the  enemy,  and  was  bristling  with 
muskets  directed  upon  the  crowd  beneath. 
It  was  no  time  to  pause  ;  those  who  were 
not  immediately  shot  down,  rushed  on  to- 
ward the  road,  their  numbers  growing  less 
and  less  as  they  went ;  Kentuckians  and 
Illinoians,  officers  and  men,  all  mixed  up  in 
confusion,  and  all  pressing  on  over  the  loose 
pebbles  and  rolling  stones  of  those  shelving, 
precipitous  banks,  and  having  lines  and  lines 
of  the  enemy  firing  down  from  each  side  and 
in  rear,  as  they  went.  Just  then,  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  had  gone  to  the  left  of  the 
reserve,  had  come  over  the  spur  that  divides 
the  mouth  of  the  second  gorge  (P)  from  that 
of  the  third/ a)  and  were  now  closing  up  the 
only  door  through  which  there  was  the  least 


BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA.      Ill 

shadow  of  a  chance  for  their  lives.  Many 
of  those  ahead  endeavored  to  force  their  way 
out ;  but  few  succeeded ;  the  lancers  were 
fully  six  to  one,  and  their  long  weapons  were 
already  reeking  with  blood.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  those,  who  were  still  back  in  that 
dreadful  gorge,  heard,  above  the  din  of  the 
musketry  and  the  shouts  of  the  enemy  around 
them,  the  roar  of  Washington's  Battery.  No 
music  could  have  been  more  grateful  to  their 
ears.  A  moment  only,  and  the  whole  open- 
ing, where  the  lancers  were  busy,  rang  with 
the  repeated  explosions  of  spherical-case  shot. 
They  gave  way.  The  gate,  as  it  were,  was 
clear,  and  out  upon  the  road  a  stream  of  our 
poor  fellows  issued.  They  ran  panting  down 
towards  the  battery,  and  directly  under  the 
flight  of  iron  then  passing  over  their  heads 
into  the  retreating  cavalry.  Hardin,  McKee, 
Clay,  Willis,  Zabriskie,  Houghton,  —  but  why 
go  on?  It  would  be  a  sad  task  indeed  to 
name  over  all  who  fell  during  this  twenty 
minutes'  slaughter.  The  whole  gorge,  from 
the  plateau  to  its  mouth,  was  strewed  with 
our  dead ;  all  dead ;  no  wounded  there,  not 
a  man ;  for  the  infantry  had  rushed  down 
the  sides,  and  completed  the  work  with  the 
bayonet. 


112  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Simultaneously  with  all  this,  the  other  por- 
tion of  the  enemy's  immense  force  continued 
to  advance  diagonally  down  the  plateau,  to- 
ward the  very  point  occupied  by  the  com- 
manding General.  There  was  nothing  to 
impede  their  progress  but  the  artillery  under 
Lieutenants  O'Brien  and  Thomas.  The  for- 
mer of  these  officers,  with  his  two  pieces, 
was  about  a  hundred  yards  to  the  right  and 
in  advance  of  the  latter ;  and  both,  though 
unsupported,  fell  back  no  faster  than  the  re- 
coil of  their  guns  would  carry  them.  They 
knew  our  troops  were  hurrying  up  from  the 
rear,  and  that,  if  they  could  retard  the  ene- 
my's course  but  a  few  minutes  longer,  the 
tide  of  battle,  now  setting  so  heavily  against 
us,  might  once  more  turn  in  our  favor.  Sher- 
man and  Bragg  were  urging  on  their  bat- 
teries with  whip,  spur,  and  even  with  drawn 
sabres ;  the  dragoons  were  coming  on  with 
them ;  while  to  the  left,  Davis  and  Lane, 
with  their  riflemen  and  infantry,  —  the  men 
with  trailed  arms,  — were  advancing,  at  a  run, 
over  the  ridges  and  ravines ;  the  awful  fire  of 
musketry  on  the  plateau,  and  down  around 
that  dismal  gorge,  proclaiming  with  fearful  elo- 
quence the  necessity  of  their  speed.  Closer 
and    closer    pressed    the  Mexicans.       O'Brien 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  113 

saw,  that,  if  he  limbered  up  in  time  to  save  his 
guns,  the  enemy  would  carry  the  plateau  be- 
fore our  other  light  artillery  could  get  to  it ; 
but  that,  if  he  stood  his  ground  and  fought 
them  until  they  were  lost,  there  was  still  a 
chance  remaining  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the 
day.  It  was  a  most  critical  moment,  and  his 
a  most  perilous  situation.  On  his  choice  there 
rested  infinite  responsibility.  His  decision, 
under  the  circumstances,  was  stamped  with 
more  of  heroism  than  any  other  one  act  of  the 
war.     He  elected  to  lose  his  guns. 

Still  onward  came  the  Mexicans.  O'Brien's 
men  were  fast  falling  around  him  ;  he  was 
himself  wounded ;  already  two  horses  had  been 
killed  under  him,  and  the  third  was  bleeding  ; 
besides,  those  attached  to  his  pieces  and  cais- 
sons were  nearly  all  down,  and  struggling  in 
their  harness.  He  looked  back,  and  saw  that 
the  troops  in  rear  were  now  nearly  up,  and  en- 
couraged his  little  handful  of  men  to  continue 
their  exertions.  The  cool  and  intrepid  Thom- 
as, on  his  left,  kept  busily  at  his  work,  and 
was  likewise  suffering  most  terrible  loss.  Still 
the  Mexicans  came  on,  and  were  now  almost 
up  to  the  guns,  which  were  pouring  into  them 
canisters   on  canisters  of  musket  balls.      No 


114  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

troops  could  have  behaved  better  than  they 
did.  There  was  no  faltering.  The  wide  gaps 
opened  through  their  ranks  were  immediately 
closed  up,  and  the  men  still  pressed  on.  Now 
nearly  every  cannoneer  was  down.  O'Brien 
looked  back  once  more,  and,  thank  God ! 
Bragg 's  Battery,  which  was  leading,  was  just 
at  that  moment  coming  into  action  ;  Sherman 
and  the  dragoons  were  following  rapidly  up, 
while  Davis  and  Lane  were  just  bringing  their 
riflemen  and  infantry  out  of  the  last  deep 
ravine  upon  the  plateau.  His  pieces  were 
nearly  loaded  again ;  it  was  slow  work,  the 
four  or  five  men  about  them  being  so  weak 
from  loss  of  blood.  But  he  was  determined 
to  give  the  Mexicans  one  more  round;  and  he 
did  so ;  it  was,  as  one  might  say,  right  in 
their  teeth ;  and  then  he.  and  the  few  crippled 
fellows  who  had  survived  the  carnage,  hob- 
bled away.* 

*  This  was  the  manner  in  which  Lieutenant  O'Brien 
"turned  over"  (to  use  a  professional  term  for  the  trans- 
ferring of  property  from  one  to  another)  these  two  cele- 
brated trophies  to  the  Mexican  army.  They  were  after- 
wards recaptured  by  the  gallant  and  lamented  Captain 
Simon  H.  Drum,  of  the  4th  Artillery,  at  Churubusco.  It 
is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  a  company  of  the  very  regi- 
ment to  which  they  belonged  should  have  retaken  thera. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  115 

While  those  of  the  Mexican  army  nearest 
the  guns  closed  in  on  them,  and,  having  cut 
the  dead  and  dying  horses  clear,  limbered  up, 
and  then,  by  hand,  rolled  the  pieces  away,  the 
rest  continued  rapidly  on,  their  speed  being 
now  accelerated  to  a  run.  Captain  Bragg  had 
appealed  to  General  Taylor  for  support.  There 
was  none  to  give  him.  That  which  had  been 
in  front  the  enemy  were  now  cutting  to  pieces 
in  the  gorge  to  which  it  had  been  driven, 
while  that  in  rear  had  not  yet  come  up.  "  Main- 
tain    THE     POSITION     AT    EVERT     HAZARD,"     WaS 

the  order.  And  nobly  was  it  executed.  That 
magnificent  battery,*  —  which  had  encountered 
the  enemy  in  every  battle  from  Palo  Alto  up, 
and  before  which  the  Mexican  ranks  had  wilt- 
ed away  as  if  breathed  upon  by  the  Angel  of 
Death,  —  now  belched  forth  a  storm  of  iron 
and  lead,  which  prostrated  every  thing  in  its 
front.      Nothing    could  withstand    its    terrible 

Speaking  of  the  time  when  they  were  recovered,  General 
Scott  says  ;  "Coming  up  a  little  later,  I  had  the  happiness 
to  join  in  the  protracted  cheers  of  the  gallant  4th  on  the 
joyous  event ;  and,  indeed,  the  whole  army  sympathizes  in 
its  just  pride  and  exultation." 

*  Ringgold's  celebrated  battery  until  he  fell ;  then  Ran- 
dolph  Ridgely's  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma  and  Monterey,  till 
he  died ;  then  Bragg's, 


116  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

fury.  In  a  few  moments  Sherman  placed  his 
battery  alongside,  and  took  up  the  fire  ;  the 
dragoons  were  ordered  to  a  position  within  sup- 
porting distance ;  and,  at  the  same  instant, 
Washington  at  La  Angostura  began  to  tear 
open  the  gate  of  lancers  from  the  gorge  be- 
low. Davis  and  Lane,  with  the  Mississippi" 
riflemen  and  Indiana  Volunteers,  having  come/ 
upon  the  plateau  at  some  distance  to  the  left 
of  the  artillery,  poured  volley  after  volley  into* 
the  enemy,  striking  him  in  flank,  and  enfilading 
his  repeated  ranks  from  right  to  left.  The 
cannonade  on  both  sides  was  now  so  incessant, 
and  the  roar  of  musketry  so  loud  and  contin- 
uous, that  it  was  impossible,  above  the  gen- 
eral clangor  and  din,  to  distinguish  the  report 
of  any  single  gun.  The  struggle  was  most 
desperate.  The  whole  air  vibrated  with  the 
rushing  current  of  balls.  The  Mexicans  fought 
as  they  had  never  fought  before,  and  with  an 
utter  disregard  of  life.  Our  men  were  falling 
on  every  hand.  General  Taylor  himself  was 
in  the  midst  of  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  calmly 
giving  his  orders,  his  clothes  torn  and  riddled 
with  bullets;  and,  wherever  the  fury  of  the 
battle  was  greatest,  there  was  General  Wool, 
riding  from   point  to  point,   encouraging   and 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  117 

stimulating  the  men  to  still  greater  exertions. 
Each  moment  our  fire  seemed  to  grow  more 
and  more  destructive.  At  length,  the  head  of 
the  Mexican  column  began  to  fall  back ;  not 
by  retreating,  but  by  being  shot  away.  Others 
pressed  on  to  supply  the  places  of  the  fallen  ; 
but  they,  too,  went  down.  Finding  it  utterly 
impossible,  notwithstanding  all  were  advancing, 
to  gain  even  a  rod  of  ground  against  such  a 
tempest,  the  whole  column  finally  faltered  a 
moment,  then  gave  way,  and  in  confusion  re- 
treated to  the  cover  of  the  deep  ravine.  Not 
till  then  did  our  fire  slacken.  The  smoke, 
which  had  enveloped  the  two  armies  like  a 
thick  veil,  then  lifted  slowly  up,  and  there  was 
the  field,  blue  with  the   uniforms  of  the  dead ! 

With  the  exception  of  the  18  and  24-pound- 
er  battery  and  its  strong  supports,  still  in  posi- 
tion at  the  head  of  the  plateau,  the  whole 
Mexican  army  had  now  given  ground.  It  had 
done  so  under  the  combined  efforts  of  Washing- 
ton's guns  at  La  Angostura,  and  of  Sherman's 
and  Bragg's  batteries,  Davis's  riflemen,  and 
Lane's  volunteer  infantry,  on  the  plain  above. 

The  remains  of  the  Second  Illinois  Regi- 
ment were  soon  got   together   after  they  had 


118  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

arrived  near  La  Angostura  from  the  fatal  gorge, 
and  were  again  brought  upon  the  plateau  by 
the  modest  and  fearless  Bissell,  and  posted  on 
the  right  of  the  batteries.  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Weatherford  also  gathered  up  the  fragments 
of  poor  Hardin's  regiment,  and  marched  them 
out  to  the  head  of  the  first  gorge.  They  thus 
relinquished  the  parapet  they  had  thrown  up, 
and  also  the  ditch  to  the  right  of  Washington, 
to  all  that  were  left  of  the  2d  Kentucky  Vol- 
unteers, who  had  been  brought  away  from 
the  gorge  after  McKee  and  Clay  had  gone 
down,  and  were  now  commanded  by  the  only 
surviving  field-officer,  Major  Cary  H.  Fry,  one 
of  the  most  determined  soldiers  in  the  battle. 
Captain  Bragg  at  this  time  advanced  his  bat- 
tery, supported  by  the  Mississippians,  two  or 
three  hundred  yards  up  the  plateau,  and  opened 
upon  the  Battalion  of  San  Patricio  with  its 
heavy  guns  and  its  sustaining  force,  the  corps 
of  Sappers  and  Miners,  now  further  strength- 
ened by  the  regiment  of  Engineers.  Captain 
Sherman  likewise  pushed  his  pieces  more  to 
the  front,  and  operated  in  that  direction  as  the 
enemy  from  time  to  time  became  exposed  to 
his  fire.  At  the  same  moment,  General  Tay- 
lor directed  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  with  the 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  119 

companies  of  the  1st  and  2d  Dragoons,  and 
Pike's  and  Preston's  companies,  to  move  up 
the  ravine  toward  the  left,  to  prevent  the  ene- 
my from  again  getting  to  our  rear  by  turning 
that  flank. 

It  was  nearly  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
when  all  these  dispositions  had  heeii  made. 
The  great  tumult  of  the  battle  had  just  given 
place  to  an  occasional  cannonade,  accompanied 
by  a  desultory  and  scattering  fire  of  small 
arms,  when  the  attention  of  our  army  was  at- 
tracted toward  the  rear  by  the  heavy  report 
of  guns  in  that  direction. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that,  during  the  22d3 
General  Minon  with  his  brigade  of  cavalry  had 
come  into  the  valley  northeast  of  Saltillo,  and 
had  been  ordered  by  Santa  Anna  to  remain 
there  until  our  troops  gave  way,  then  to  fall 
upon  them,  and  cut  them  up.  About  twelve 
o'clock,  at  noon,  on  the  23d,  a  large  detach- 
ment of  this  brigade,  apparently  impatient  at 
waiting  for  our  precipitate  retreat,  passed  along 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  and  ascended  into 
the  Pass  through  a  deep  ravine  at  long  cannon 
range  southeast  from  the  redoubt.  As  they  did 
so,  and  swept  around  to  gain  the  road  between 
the  battle-field  and  the  city,  they  were  opened 


120  BATTLE     Or     BUENA     VISTA. 

upon  by  Captain  Webster  with  his  24-pounder 
howitzers,  and,  before  they  could  get  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  shells,  sustained  a  slight  loss 
both  in  men  and  horses.  During  the  after- 
noon, this  force  was  followed  on  the  same 
route  by  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  which,  when 
it  had  united  with  its  advance,  halted  in  one 
immense  column,  —  the  whole  being  but  a  lit- 
tle over  a  mile  in  front  of  the  town.  In  this 
position  General  Minon  succeeded  in  intercept- 
ing the  flight  of  several  of  the  men  who  had 
left  the  field  of  battle,  and  in  making  them 
prisoners.  The  brigade,  however,  had  hardly 
gained  this  new  position,  before  Lieutenant 
Donaldson  and  Lieutenant  Bowen,  of  Web- 
ster's Battery,  galloped  over  to  the  head-quarter 
camp,  and,  in  concert  with  Lieutenant  Shover, 
proposed  that  Donaldson  and  Shover, — the 
former  with  one  of  Webster's  howitzers,  the 
latter  with  his  6-pounder  gun,  —  should  go  out 
and  attack  it  by  themselves,  and,  if  possible, 
force  it  from  the  Pass.  It  was  a  bold  plan,  and 
one  they  were  the  very  men,  not  only  to  con- 
ceive, but  to  execute.  Lieutenant  Shover  knew, 
that,  if  our  army  in  front  of  Buena  Vista  had 
been  routed,  as  the  fugitives  had  reported,  a 
most  desperate  stand  would  probably  be  made 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  121 

in  front  of  the  town,  and,  for  the  moment, 
therefore,  he  did  not  feel  authorized  to  leave 
a  position  which  General  Taylor  had  ordered 
him  to  defend  to  the  last  extremity.  But  after- 
wards, when  he  found  that  our  lines  were  still 
maintaining  their  ground,  and  that  he  could 
then  leave  the  head-quarter  camp  without  so 
much  danger  of  compromising  its  safety,  he 
dashed  forward  with  his  gun  at  a  gallop,  having 
for  a  support  a  promiscuous  crowd  of  mount- 
ed and  foot  volunteers,  teamsters,  and  citizens, 
whom  Paymaster  Weston,  Mr.  Winder,  his  clerk, 
and  several  other  spirited  gentlemen  had  gath- 
ered up  among  those  who  had  fled  to  the  town. 
They  were  without  organization,  or  even  any 
commander,  and  followed  on  after  him  as  best 
they  might,  but  yelling  and  whooping  most 
infernally  as  they  went.  Lieutenant  Donald- 
son soon  got  out  his  24-pounder  howitzer,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  formed  a  junction  with  Lieu- 
tenant Shover,  having  for  his  support  Captain 
Wheeler's  company  of  the  2d  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. During  this  time,  Mifion's  brigade  had 
been  put  in  motion,  and  was  now  taking  a 
direction  evidently  to  regain  the  valley  from 
which  it  had  ascended.  Lieutenant  Shover, 
being  ahead,  was   the  first   to  bring   it  with- 


122  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

in  range.  He  immediately  opened  upon  it, 
striking  the  column  in  flank,  and  doing  much 
execution.  Lieutenant  Donaldson,  with  his 
howitzer,  then  came  alongside,  when  they  two, 
thus  united,  absolutely  drove  General  Mifion's 
whole  command  for  at  least  three  miles, 
causing  him  very  considerable  loss.  At  length, 
as  these  two  determined  officers  arrived  at 
some  mills  *  near  the  mountains  toward  the 
east,  Captain  Wheeler's  company  was  advanced 
as  skirmishers,  and  occupied  the  buildings  and 
a  stone  aqueduct  which  is  there ;  while  the 
two  pieces  remained  in  battery,  and  continued 
to  play  on  the  brigade.  General  Minon  sev- 
eral times  formed  some  of  the  squadrons  com- 
posing the  rear  of  his  column,  with  a  view  of 
charging  these  guns ;  but  the  ground  was  so 
broken,  and  the  fire  so  well  directed,  that  he 
as  often  relinquished  his  purpose.  Finally, 
he  hurried  on,  and  at  length  abandoned  the 
Pass  entirely,  and,  descending  through  the  deep 
ravines,  made  a  rapid  retreat  to  the  plain  below 
the  town.  He  continued,  as  he  did  so,  a  long 
while  under  the  fire  of  Lieutenant  Donaldson's 

*  Arispe's  Mills.  They  are  turned  by  the  water  of  the 
spring  at  Buena  Vista.  It  is  carried  to  them  by  means  of 
a  deep  ditch  or  canal,  and  by  aqueducts  across  the  ravines. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  123 

howitzer,  which  was  of  heavier  metal  than  the 
gun  of  his  gallant  comrade.  This  was  one  of 
the  most  daring  exploits  of  the  day.  The 
communication  between  the  army  and  the  city 
being  now  completely  opened  again,  Lieuten- 
ent  Donaldson  and  Lieutenant  Shover,  with 
their  pieces  and  supports,  returned  to  their  re- 
spective posts. 

Meanwhile,  upon  the  battle-field,  the  enemy 
still  held  the  position  where  he  had  first  estab- 
lished the  battery  of  the  Battalion  of  San  Pa- 
tricio ;  and,  as  the  sun  settled  down  still  lower 
in  the  west,  he  was  seen  to  move  up  one  or 
two  other  regiments,  the  more  certainly  to 
maintain  it.  As  this  force  could  not  be  driven 
from  the  point  it  occupied,  except  at  a  sacrifice 
we  were  not  in  an  immediate  condition  to 
make,  Captain  Bragg's  battery,  accompanied 
by   the  Mississippians,*  was   withdrawn  from 

*  Colonel  Davis  was  severely  crippled,  when  he  first 
came  under  fire  in  the  morning,  by  a  shot  through  the 
bones  of  the  arch  of  one  of  his  feet.  He  continued,  how- 
ever, to  lead  his  men  until  the  fury  of  the  battle  had 
subsided,  when  he  was  forced  by  the  exceedingly  painful 
and  dangerous  nature  of  his  wound  to  seek  surgical  aid. 
The  remains  of  his  gallant  regiment  fell  into  good  hands. 
Major  Bradford  succeeded  him  in  command,  —  a  gentle- 
man always  distinguished  for  his  soldierly  bearing,  and 
conspicuous  in  battle  for  his  coolness  and  utter  contempt 
of  danger. 


124  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

its  fire  to  the  foot  of  the  plateau.  Captain 
Sherman  still  remained  at  the  same  advanced 
point,  and  still  continued  to  fire  upon  such 
portions  of  the  enemy  as  he  could  now  and 
then  reach  with  effect.  As  the  sun  sank  lower 
and  lower,  the  occasional  rattle  of  musketry 
gave  place  to  dropping  shot,  which,  in  turn, 
became  less  and  less  frequent,  and  at  length 
entirely  ceased.  The  fire  of  artillery  on  both 
sides  had  gradually  subsided ;  the  sun  went 
down ;  the  heavy  and  reverberated  report  of 
cannon  had  longer  and  more  uncertain  inter- 
vals ;  finally  it  was  hushed ;  a  profound  and 
painful  silence  succeeded,  and  again  the  cold, 
deepening  shadows  of  evening  began  silently 
to  steal  over  the  field.  The  two  armies  were 
still  there,  and  were  still  sternly  regarding  each 
other,  face  to  face.  They  were  standing  al- 
most upon  the  same  ground  where  they  had 
respectively  stood  the  night  before.  But  in 
the  Mexican  lines  we  could  hear  no  animated 
harangue,  no  responding  vivas,  nor  approving 
cheers ;  and  the  night  wind  brought  not  to 
our  ears  again  the  witchery  of  that  sweet 
music.  One  could  hardly  realize,  as  he  now 
looked  upon  the  dark  masses  of  the  two  ar- 
mies, that  they  had  been  so  mingled  in  bloody 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  125 

strife  since  last  he  saw  them  similarly  situ- 
ated ;  all  was  now  so  calm.  Indeed,  hardly 
a  sound  could  be  heard,  save  the  occasional 
dismal  napping  of  the  wings  of  the  fierce  za- 
palotes,*  now  hovering  over  the  Pass,  or  the 
distant  and  almost  human  yell  of  the  hungry 
wolves,  answered  by  others  away  in  the  gloomy 
recesses  of  the  surrounding  mountains.  They 
were  already  beginning  to  gather  in  to  their 
horrible  repast.  And  now,  scarcely  an  evi- 
dence of  the  conflict  could  be  seen,  except 
when  one  took  a  closer  survey  of  the  ground 
about  him.  Then,  scattered  on  every  hand, 
how  many  and  many  were  the  dark  forms 
which  met  his  eye  of  what  had  been  stalwart 
men  and  powerful  steeds!  some  lying  as  if 
asleep,  and  some  in  strange,  unnatural  postures, 
with  the  moonlight  resting  steadily  and  cold 
on  the  bright  points  of  uniforms  and  trappings, 
all  still  and  firm  as  if  they  were  belted  to 
stone,  —  not  tremulous  and  moving,  as  when 
on  breathing,  animated  beings.  These  were 
fearful  proofs  of  the  desperate  struggle  which 
had   gone    by.      These    ghastly  figures,    with 

*  Za-pa-lo-te,  a  species  of  vulture  with  black  body  and 
wings.  The  head,  tail,  and  tips  of  the  wings  are  white. 
They  fly  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  and  are  very  fierce. 


126  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

the  immovable  luminous  points  resting  upon 
them,  were  the  solemn  characters,  the  terrible 
hieroglyphics,  traced  upon  the  field,  which, 
being  deciphered  amidst  the  obscurity  of  night, 
told  in  mute  but  eloquent  language  how  dread- 
ful a  day  had  passed. 

So  ended  the  battle  of  the  23d  of  February. 

Early  in  the  evening  every  preparation  had 
been  made  to  resist  any  attack  the  Mexicans 
might    offer   during    the   night.      Along    our 
whole  front  there  was  stretched  a  close  chain 
of  sentinels  ;    while,  to    observe   the  enemy's 
movements,  should  he  attempt  before  morning 
again   to  turn  our  left  by  infantry  along  the 
mountains,    a   piquet    of    twenty-five    regular 
dragoons,  under  Lieutenant  Carleton  and  Lieu- 
tenant Givens,   was  sent  far  up  the  ravine  in 
rear    of  the    plateau.     At   the  same  time,  the 
mounted  companies  of  Captain  Pike  and  Cap- 
tain Preston  were  directed  to  proceed  to  an  ad- 
vanced point  across  the  stream, (21)  to  watch  him 
from  that  quarter.     The  remains  of  the  Missis-/ 
sippi  regiment  were  sent  in  to  the  head-quarter) 
encampment   near    Saltillo,    while   the    seven\ 
fresh  companies  stationed  in  and  near  the  city7 
were  ordered  to  replace  them  upon  the  battle- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  127 

field.  Indeed,  every  arrangement  was  soon 
completed  for  renewing  the  struggle  the  coming 
day.  The  wounded  were  all  gathered  up,  and 
carried  to  the  cathedral  in  town.*  Our  troops, 
without  moving  from  their  positions,  were 
supplied  with  bread,  meat,  and  water  ;  and  our 
dragoon  and  artillery  horses,  still  under  the 
saddle  or  in  harness,  were  refreshed  with  for- 
age where  they  stood.  All  these  things  being 
done,  the  night  passed  slowly  away,  and,  al- 
though cloudless,  was  extremely  inclement. 
The  troops  were  nearly  exhausted  from  their 
protracted  labors ;  and  now,  in  addition  to 
their  fatigue  and  want  of  sleep,  they  were  suf- 
fering intensely  from  the  cold.  It  was  a  most 
gloomy  and  horrible  night,  and  one  which  our 
soldiers,  who  stood  shivering  there  amidst  the 
dead,  and  with  their  arms  in  their  hands  ready 


*  A  large  train  of  wagons,  filled  with  our  wounded,  was 
conducted  to  Saltillo,  during  the  night  of  the  23d,  by  Enoch 
C.  March,  Esq.,  of  Illinois,  a  most  gallant  old  gentleman, 
and  one  who,  though  connected  with  the  army  only  in  a 
civil  capacity,  was  always  found,  during  the  battle,  where 
he  could  be  of  service  ;  whether  it  was  in  the  thick  fight, 
in  gathering  up  our  poor  fellows  who  were  mangled  and 
bleeding,  in  rallying  those  who  had  given  way,  or  in  the 
melancholy  duty  of  conducting  this  long  train  to  the  cathe- 
dral in  the  city. 


128  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

for  instant  combat,  can  never  forget.  No  one 
despaired  of  ultimate  success.  The  advantages 
the  enemy  had  at  first  gained  had  been,  one 
after  another,  wrested  from  him.  So  far  the 
battle  was  ours  ;  and  every  man  upon  the  field 
still  held  firm  his  resolution  that  it  should  con- 
tinue to  be  ours.  But  already  seven  hundred 
and  forty-six  *  of  our  little  army  had  been 
struck  down,  and  all  felt  that  the  anticipated 
conflict  of  the  approaching  morrow  would  be 
as  bloody  as  that  of  the  day  which  had  gone. 
No  wonder,  then,  that  this  was  a  most  anx- 
ious and  melancholy  night. 

During  the  evening  of  the  23d,  General 
Marshall,  with  a  battery  of  four  heavy  guns 
under  the  gallant  and  accomplished  Captain 
Prentiss  of  the  U.  S.  1st  Artillery,  and  a  de- 
tachment of  Kentucky  Mounted  Volunteers, 
started  from  the  Pass  of  the  Rinconada,  and, 
by  a  forced  march,  succeeded  in  running  the 
gantlet  of  Blanco's  and  Aguierra's  rancheros  at 
Capellania  on  his  right,  and  General  Mirion's 
whole  brigade  on  his  left,  and,  before  morn- 
ing, arrived  within  striking  distance  of  Buena 
Vista.  Too  much  praise  could  not  be  bestowed 
upon  tins  little  command  for  its  extraordina- 

*  See  Appendix,  E. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  129 

ry  efforts  to  get  to  the  field  in  time  to  share 
in  the  perils  and  glory  of  the  conflict.  In  less 
than  one  night,  it  marched  thirty-five  miles 
over  one  of  the  worst  of  roads ;  and,  at  the 
crossing  of  every  ravine,  the  officers  and  men 
were  obliged  to  assist  with  ropes,  not  only  in 
letting  the  cannon  down  the  first  bank,  bat  in 
pulling  them  up  the  opposite  one.  In  this 
way  those  determined  fellows  came  on,  with 
the  enemy,  more  than  ten  to  one,  hovering 
about  them  on  every  hand.  The  timely  ap- 
proach of  this  force,  together  with  the  troops 
he  had  drawn  from  Saltillo,  afforded  General 
Taylor  quite  as  many  combatants,  in  front  of 
Santa  Anna,  as  he  had  when  the  battle  com- 
menced, and  even  one  piece  of  artillery  more. 
At  length  the  long  hours  of  the  night  had 
worn  slowly  away.  Just  before  day,  the  moon 
went  down.  Soon  afterward,  the  gray,  and 
then  the  purple  streaks  of  morning  began  to 
lighten  up  the  eastern  sky,  and  the  stars,  one 
by  one,  to  melt  into  the  blue  of  heaven.  Grad- 
ually the  surrounding  objects  became  more  and 
more  distinct  as  the  day  approached.  Then  it 
was  that  a  sound  went  along  our  lines  ever  to  be 
remembered.  It  was  but  a  single  cry  at  first; 
then  a  murmur,  which  rose  and  swelled  upon 
9 


130  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

the  ear  like  the  voice  of  a  tempest ;  then  a 
prolonged  and  thrilling  shout : 

Victory  !  Victory  !  Victory  !  The  ene- 
my has  eled!     The  field  is  ours! 

Reader  !  you  should  have  heard  the  wild 
hurrah  that  then  rang  throughout  that  Pass ;  the 
long,  exultant,  American  "Hurrah!"  Even 
the  old  mountains  themselves  turned  traitors 
for  the  moment,  and  yelled  to  their  hoarse 
echoes  to  repeat  it.  Again  and  again  it 
sounded,  and  right  over  the  inanimate  remains 
of  the  gallant  men  who  had  poured  out  their 
blood  and  yielded  up  their  lives  to  win  this 
new  glory  for  their  country.  And  then,  with 
mingled  feelings  of  sorrow  for  the  dead,  joy 
for  the  victory,  and  gratitude  to  God,  many 
a  strong  heart  was  moved ;  the  big  drops 
trickled  down  many  a  rough  and  powder- 
blackened  face  ;  and  stern,  brave  men,  whose 
eyes,  for  many  a  long  day,  had  not  known 
the  refreshing  moisture  of  a  tear,  wept  now, 
even  while  they  shouted  in  triumph. 

And  it  was  so  ;  —  the  heavy  masses  of  the 
Mexican  army,  which,  when  the  night  shut 
down,  extended  along  our  front  from  the 
stream  to  the  mountains,  were  nowhere  to  be 
seen  when  the  coming   day  again  lit  up  the 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  131 

Pass.  Silently,  and  almost  as  unaccountably, 
as  the  phantoms  of  a  vision,  they  had  gone 
away.  But,  in  the  twenty-five  hundred  dead 
and  wounded  men,*  whom  they  had  left  be- 
hind, and  who  would  not  vanish  with  the 
darkness,  we  had  melancholy  evidence,  that 
their  having  been  before  us,  and  struggled 
with  us  for  two  long  days,  was  something 
more  real  than  the  flitting  vagaries  of  a 
dream. 

By  seven  o'clock,  our  scouts  brought  the 
information  that  Santa  Anna's  whole  army 
had  fallen  back  on  Agua  Nueva;  but  our 
troops  were  not  only  too  much  exhausted, 
but  too  few,  to  pursue  and  attack  him  there. 
Soon  afterwards,  General  Taylor,  accompanied 
by  General  Wool  and  nearly  all  the  staff,  and 
having,  as  a  guard,  the  companies  of  the  1st 
and  2d  Dragoons,  and  Pike's  squadron,  moved 
up  to  the  plateau  and  along  over  the  battle- 
field; and  thence,  following  the  enemy's  trail, 
to  La  Encantada.  No  one  can  imagine,  much 
less  describe,  how  dreadful  a  scene  it  was  for 
the  whole  way.  All  of  our  men  who  had 
fallen,  and  whom  the  enemy  had  been  able  to 

*  See  Appendix,  F. 


132  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

reach,  were  stripped  of  every  article  of  cloth- 
ing, and  gashed  over  with  wounds  evidently 
inflicted  after  death.  The  Mexicans,  on  the 
contrary,  lay  just  as  they  had  died.  The 
plateau  was  covered  with  the  dead,  and  the 
gorges  and  ravines  in  front  were  filled  with 
them.  The  ground,  furrowed  by  cannon-shot 
and  torn  by  the  bursting  shells,  was  liter- 
ally reeking  with  blood.  Men  and  horses, 
parts  of  equipments,  shattered  muskets,  drums, 
trumpets,  lances,  swords,  caps,  — in  fine,  all  the 
paraphernalia  of  armies,  were  scattered,  crim- 
son with  gore,  in  every  direction.  The  Mex- 
ican wounded  had  nearly  all  been  taken  to  the 
cover  of  the  ravines,  or  along  the  road  beyond 
cannon  range  ;  and  two  or  three  surgeons  had 
been  left  behind,  and  were  now  busily  en- 
gaged in  trying  to  save  them.  As  our  dra- 
goons passed  along  over  this  part  of  the  field, 
the  cries  for  water,  which  were  heard  in 
every  direction,  were  truly  heart-rending.  Our 
men  dismounted,  and  gave  the  poor  fellows 
their  canteens,  and  placed  beside  them,  upon 
the  ground,  the  contents  of  their  haversacks. 
It  was  a  touching  sight. 

Arriving  at  La  Encantada,  General  Taylor 
directed  Major  Bliss,  Assistant  Adjutant-Gen- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  133 

eralj  escorted  by  twenty-five  dragoons  under 
Lieutenant  Buford,  to  proceed  with  a  flag  to 
Agua  Nueva,  and  negotiate  with  General 
Santa  Anna  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  We 
had  taken  nearly  three  hundred,  and  it  was 
the  General's  desire  to  give  them  up  for  those, 
who.  under  Major  Gaines  and  Major  Borland, 
had  been  captured  by  General  Minon,  at 
Encarnacion,  some  time  before  the  battle. 
The  Mexican  army  had  taken  only  seven  of 
our  men  on  the  22d  and  23d  of  February, 
and  those  not  on  the  battle-field,  —  there,  they 
took  none, — but  between  Buena  Vista  and 
Saltillo.  General  Taylor  also  directed  Major 
Bliss  to  request  the  Mexican  commander  to 
send  for  the  wounded  he  had  left  behind,  and 
to  express  to  him  the  desire  still  cherished  by 
the  American  government  for  the  reestablish- 
ment  of  peace. 

When  Major  Bliss  arrived  near  Agua  Nueva, 
he  was  halted  by  the  enemy's  guards ;  but, 
having  made  known  that  the  purpose  of  his 
visit  was  to  obtain  an  interview  with  General 
Santa  Anna,  he  and  his  interpreter*  were 
both    blindfolded,   and    were    then    conducted 

*  Mr.  Thomas  H.  Addicks,  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar, 
Texas. 


134  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

forward  to  a  room  in  one  of  the  buildings  of 
the  village  which  had  escaped  the  conflagra- 
tion. There  the  bandages  were  taken  from 
their  eyes,  when  they  found  themselves  in 
the  presence  of  the  Mexican  President,  sur- 
rounded by  his  generals.  The  Major  at  once 
informed  his  Excellency  of  the  mission  with 
which  he  was  charged.  To  this,  General 
Santa  Anna,  —  to  use  his  exact  language,  as 
reported  by  himself,  —  replied  as  follows  : 

"  Say  to  General  Taylor,  that  we  sustain 
the  most  sacred  of  causes,  —  the  defence  of 
our  territory  and  the  preservation  of  our 
nationality  and  rights;  that  we  are  not  the 
aggressors,  and  that  our  government  has  never 
offended  that  of  the  United  States.  We  can 
say  nothing  of  peace  while  the  Americans  are 
on  this  side  of  the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte,  or 
occupy  any  part  of  the  Mexican  territory,  or 
blockade  our  ports.  We  are  resolved  to  perish 
or  vindicate  our  rights.  Fortune  may  not 
always  favor  the  enemy ;  his  experience  on 
the  22d  and  23d  should  convince  him  that 
his  luck  may  change.  The  Americans  wage 
against  us  a  war  of  Vandalism,  whose  excesses 
outrage  those  sentiments  of  humanity  which 
one  civilized  nation  ought  to  evince    toward 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  135 

another.  In  proof  of  this  assertion,  you  have 
but  to  go  outside  of  this  apartment  to  see  still 
smoking  the  dwellings  of  this  recently  flour- 
ishing village ;  you  passed  the  same  vestiges 
of  desolation  at  La  Encantada,  on  your  route 
hither  :  and,  if  you  will  go  a  little  farther  on, 
there,  to  Catana,  you  will  hear  the  moans  of 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  innocent  victims 
who  have  been  sacrificed  without  necessity. 

"  With  respect  to  the  wounded  whom  Gen- 
eral Taylor  invites  me  to  send  for,  I  can  only 
say  there  can  be  none  save  those  who  have 
been  too  much  hurt  to  arise  from  the  field,  or 
those  most  in  advance  who  remained  in  the 
ravines ;  and,  as  I  have  not  the  means  for 
their  conveyance,  I  trust  that,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  law  of  nations,  he  will  have 
them  carried  to  Saltillo.  As  for  the  prisoners 
General  Taylor  wishes  to  exchange,  I  know 
not  who  they  can  be,  unless  some  of  our  dis- 
persed troops,  or  some  who,  from  the  fatigue 
of  the  last  two  days,  remained  asleep  when 
we  moved.  But,  in  consideration  of  the 
courtesy  he  has  shown  with  regard  to  our 
wounded,  I  consent,  in  the  name  of  the  nation, 
to  release  all  the  prisoners  we  have,  whether 
taken  at  Encarnacion  or  La  Angostura," 


136  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

His  Excellency,  in  continuation,  spoke  of 
his  having  won  the  battle  of  General  Taylor, 
as  of  something  about  which  there  could  be 
no  difference  of  opinion.  He  remarked  casu- 
ally, that  he  had  brought  with  him,  as  trophies 
from  the  field,  three  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  as 
many  stands  of  colors ;  *  and  that,  in  falling 
back  to  the  position  he  then  occupied,  he  had 
done  so  as  a  mere  matter  of  convenience  to 
himself  and  his  army.  Major  Bliss  and  his 
interpreter  were  then  permitted  to  take  their 
leave  without  being  blindfolded.  The  Major 
immediately  returned,  with  his  escort,  to 
Buena  Vista,  the  commanding  General  having 
come  back  from  La  Encantada  during  his 
absence. 

All  the  rest  of  the  24th,  and  the  day  follow- 
ing, were  spent  in  collecting  and  burying  our 
dead,f   and    in    gathering    up    the    Mexican 

*  The  reader  has  already  been  informed  how  Santa 
Anna  obtained  the  three  cannon  to  which  he  alluded. 
The  flags,  which  he  dignified  by  the  title  of  "  stands  of 
colors,"  were  merely  the  small  ensigns  which  belonged  to 
some  of  those  volunteer  companies  who  ran  from  the  field, 
and  which,  being  encumbrances  to  their  flight,  their  bear- 
ers had  thrown  away. 

t  Each  regiment  and  corps  chose  for  itself  some  quiet 
little  nook  to  the  left  pf  the  small  eminence  <22>  in  rear  of 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  137 

wounded,  and  taking  them  to  Saltillo,  where 
they  received  precisely  the  same  personal 
kindness  and  professional  treatment  from  our 
surgeons  as  had  been  bestowed  upon  the  men 
of  our  own  army.  Preparations  were  also 
made  to  renew  the  conflict,  should  the  enemy 
return.  Captain  Prentiss's  heavy  guns  took 
the  place  of  Washington's  Light  Battery  at 
La  Angostura ;  and  Lieutenant  Benham,  of  the 
Engineers,  with  a  large  detail  of  men,  soon 
improved  the  ditch,  raised  the  epaulment,  and 
strengthened  the  traverse  at  that  point  to  such 
a  degree  as  to  make  it  far  more  difficult  to 
carry  than  ever. 

Up  to  this  moment,  in  describing  the  hur- 
ried movements  and  combat  of  the  two  forces, 
and  the  continued  pressing  of  one  important 
event  upon  another,  it  has  been  impossible,  — 
without  danger  of  injuring  the  impression  it 
was  hoped  the  reader  would  have  of  the  bat- 
tle in  its  progress  from  the  beginning,  —  to 
mention  many  individuals  by  name,  except 
those  belonging  to  the  Line  of  the  Army.  To 
all  who  have  thus  far  perused  this  narrative, 
this   must   certainly    have    been  self-evident. 

La  Angostura,  and  there  buried,  side  by  side,  the  remains 
of  the  gallant  men  death  had  selected  from  it. 


138  BATTLE      OF      BUENA     VISTA. 

But  justice  to  the  Staff,  always  so  distin- 
guished, demands  that,  at  this  point,  the 
names  of  all  its  members,  who  participated  in 
the  conflicts  of  the  22d  and  23d  of  February, 
should  be  distinctly  recorded. 

Of  the  Adjutant-General's  Department,  there 
were  but  two  officers  on  the  field ;  Major 
Bliss  and  Captain  Lincoln.  It  would  be  su- 
pererogatory to  write  here  any  thing  more 
than  the  names  of  these  two  distinguished 
soldiers.  The  same  remark  is  applicable  to 
Inspector-General  Churchill,  and  to  Colonel 
Whiting,  Assistant  Quartermaster-General,  two 
of  the  staunchest  veterans  in  the  service. 
Colonel  Belknap,  on  duty  in  the  staff  of  the 
commanding  General,  was  conspicuous  for  his 
efforts  to  rally  our  flying  troops,  as  was 
also  Major  Munroe,  Chief  of  Artillery.  Major 
Joseph  H.  Eaton  and  Lieutenant  Garnett, 
aides  to  General  Taylor,  and  Lieutenant 
McDowell,  aide  to  General  Wool,  carried  the 
orders  of  their  respective  chiefs  into  all  parts 
of  the  field,  and  were  noticed  everywhere  for 
their  coolness  and  address.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  Lieutenant  Robinson,  aide  to  Gen- 
eral Lane.  Of  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment,  there  were  but  two  captains  present ; 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  139 

Captain  William  W.  Chapman  and  Captain 
Chilton.  The  former,  as  extra  aide  to  General 
Wool,  displayed  great  bravery  in  repeatedly 
conveying  orders  under  the  most  withering 
fire,  and  was  highly  complimented  for  his  ad- 
mirable arrangements  for  the  defence  of  the 
train  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d.  The  lat- 
ter, being  extra  aide  to  General  Taylor,  was 
conspicuous  for  his  daring.  Captain  Sibley, 
of  the  same  department,  was  on  duty  at  the 
head-quarter  encampment  near  Saltillo,  where, 
though  not  actively  engaged,  he  rendered  good 
service. 

Of  the  Medical  Department,  there  were  on 
the  field  Dr.  Hitchcock,  Dr.  Madison,  Dr.  Leve- 
ly,  and  Dr.  Prevost.  They  were  ably  as- 
sisted by  the  surgeons  of  the  Volunteer  regi- 
ments. The  courageous  manner  in  which 
these  gentlemen  passed  along  our  lines  and 
rendered  assistance  to  the  wounded,  often- 
times at  the  moment  they  fell ;  the  positions 
of  imminent  peril  to  which  they  cheerfully  and 
at  all  times  hurried,  whenever  their  profession- 
al services  were  required  on  the  instant ;  the 
care  with  which  they  had  those  who  were 
struck  borne  to  the  rear,  and  subsequently  car- 
ried to  Saltillo,  and  their  assiduity  in  attend- 


140  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

ing  upon  them  day  and  night,  gained  for  them 
the  unqualified  praise  of  the  whole  army. 
Major  Dix,  Major  Coffee,  and  Major  Colquitt, 
of  the  Pay  Department,  and  extra  aides  to  the 
commanding  General,  were,  in  a  high  degree, 
conspicuous  for  their  intrepidity. 

The  services,  during  the  battle,  of  Major 
Mansfield,  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  were  just 
such  as  would  be  expected  from  an  officer  who 
enjoys  the  reputation  throughout  the  army  of 
being  qualified  in  every  respect  to  command  a 
hundred  thousand  men.  Lieutenant  Benham,  ^ 
of  the  same  corps,  was  always  in  advanced  posi- 
tions, and  consequently  always  in  danger.  He 
performed  his  duties  with  great  credit,  and 
had  the  honor  to  be  wounded.  Of  the  Corps 
of  Topographical  Engineers,  there  were  five 
officers  present  in  the  battle  ;  Captain  Linnard, 
Lieutenant  Sitgreaves,  Lieutenant  Pope,  Lieu- 
tenant Franklin,  and  Lieutenant  Bryan ;  and 
each  one  of  them  was  highly  distinguished  for 
the  fearlessness  with  which  he  discharged  the 
important  duties  of  his  station.  They  all 
served  as  extra  aides  to  General  Taylor  or  Gen- 
eral Wool. 

Lieutenant   Kingsbury  was  the  only  officer 
of  the  Ordnance  Department  present.     In  ad- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  141 

dition  to  the  performance  of  the  legitimate  and 
extremely  arduous  duties  of  his  station,  he 
likewise  served  as  extra  aide  to  the  command- 
ing General,  and  acquitted  himself  with  gal- 
lantry. The  Subsistence  Department  was 
well  represented  by  Captain  Amos  B.  Eaton, 
who  also  served  upon  the  field  in  the  immedi- 
ate staff  of  General  Taylor.  Major  Craig, 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  and  Surgeon  Craig,  Medi- 
cal Director,  had  been  detached  from  head- 
quarters, and  did  not  arrive  upon  the  field  un- 
til the  morning  of  the  24th,  but  came  in  time 
to  render  valuable  services  in  their  respective 
departments  of  the  staff.  Major  McCulloch, 
Major  Roman,  Captain  Davis,  Captain  Howard, 
Captain  Naper,  and  Captain  Gilbert,  of  the 
Volunteer  staff,  did  their  duty  like  soldiers. 
Mr.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky,  vol- 
unteered his  services  as  aide  to  General  Taylor. 
His  coolness  and  daring  were  the  subject  of 
remark.  Mr.  March,  Mr.  Parker,  Mr.  Addicks, 
Mr.  Potts,  Mr.  Henry  A.  Harrison,  Mr.  Bur- 
gess, Mr.  Henry  Howard,  and  Mr.  Dusenbury, 
though  not  attached  to  the  army  in  a  military 
capacity,  went  upon  the  ground  and  fought 
with  great  courage. 

During  the  evening  of  the  25th,  Lieutenant 


142  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Rucker,  with  his  company  of  1st  Dragoons  as 
a  guard,  marched  all  the  Mexican  prisoners, 
who  were  to  be  given  up,  to  La  Encantada, 
where  Inspector-General  Churchill  formally 
turned  them  over  to  Captain  Faulac  of  the 
Mexican  army,  the  Adjutant-General  of  Santa 
Anna.*  On  the  26th,  our  spies  reported  that  the 
enemy  was  beginning  to  break  up  his  camp  at 
Agua  Nueva,  and  was  rapidly  falling  back  upon 
the  road  leading  toward  San  Luis  de  Potosi. 
Early  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  a  strong 
party  of  observation,  composed  of  the  two 
companies  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  associated  with 
Pike's  and  Preston's  companies  of  Arkansas 
Mounted  Volunteers,  pushed  on  within  half  a 
mile  of  Agua  Nueva,  and,  during  a  close  re- 
connoissance,  succeeded  in  capturing  two  lan- 
cers, from  whom  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
whole  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  infantry 
had  already  gone,  leaving  a  force  of  upwards 
of  3000  cavalry,  under  General  Torrejon,  to 
cover  their  retreat.  On  the  27th  our  entire 
army  returned  to  Agua  Nueva.  The  enemy's 
cavalry  had  abandoned  that  place  at  half  past 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Our  advance- 
guard,  composed  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  entered 

*  See  Appendix,  G. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  143 

it  two  hours  later.  The  rains  of  the  village 
were  literally  crowded  with  the  enemy's 
wounded,  and  many  who  had  died  were  lying 
about  still  unburied.  Here  we  learned  from 
the  surgeons  and  wounded  officers,  who  had 
been  left  behind,  that  the  whole  Mexican  army 
was  in  a  state  of  utter  disarray  and  demorali- 
zation ;  that  4000  men,  at  least,  had  already 
deserted,  3000  of  them  having  abandoned 
their  colors  on  the  night  of  the  23d.*  It 
was  General  Taylor's  purpose  at  once  to  pur- 
sue the  enemy  so  as  to  beat  up  his  quarters 
at  Encarnacion  by  daybreak  the  following 
morning ;  but,  upon  examination,  our  cavalry 
and  artillery  horses  were  found  to  be  so  ex- 
hausted, as  to  be  in  no  condition  to  take  the 
road  for  so  long  a  march  without  water,  until 
they  had  had  at  least  one  day's  repose. 

On  the  28th,  the  wounded  whom  the  ene- 
my had  abandoned  at  Agua  Nueva  were  carried 
to  the  hospitals  at  Saltillo.  Late  in  the  evening 
of  the    same  day,  the  few  prisoners  General 

*  Which,  was  the  fact.  "We  subsequently  learned  that 
at  least  2000  went  by  Parras,  toward  the  west ;  that  as 
many  more  passed  by  La  Hedionda  toward  the  east ;  while 
large  numbers  took  the  Mazapil  road,  and  scattered  through, 
the  country  in  that  direction. 


144  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Minon  had  taken  came  in  from  Encarnacion, 
having  been  released  at  that  point  by  Santa 
Anna,  and  furnished  with  passports  to  our  army. 
Lieutenant  Sturgis  and  the  dragoon,  who  had 
been  lost  at  La  Hedionda  on  the  evening  of 
the  20th,  and  whom  we  had  considered  as  sac- 
rificed, to  our  astonishment  and  great  joy  re- 
turned with  this  party.  At  the  time  they  were 
captured,  they  had  arrived  at  the  top  of  the 
hill,  which  they  had  climbed  in  order  to  recon- 
noitre the  valley  beyond,  when  they  were  fired 
upon  by  an  out-lying  piquet  of  General  Miri- 
on's  brigade,  some  twenty-five  in  number ;  but, 
fortunately,  were  not  struck.  They  immedi- 
ately turned  and  ran  down  towards  the  place 
where  they  had  been  obliged  to  leave  their 
horses,  the  whole  piquet  following  them.  In 
their  rapid  flight,  they  both  fell  prostrate,  and 
were  overtaken  and  secured  by  the  Mexicans 
before  they  could  recover  their  feet.  They 
would  ha^e  been  murdered  on  the  instant,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  timely  intervention  of  the 
officer  commanding  the  party.  They  were 
then  taken  to  General  Minon's  head-quarters 
at  Guachuchil.  The  General  treated  Lieuten- 
ant Sturgis  with  marked  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness, and  showed  a  most  gentlemanly  and  deli- 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  145 

cate  regard  for  his  situation  and  feelings ;  not 
asking,  or  permitting  any  of  his  officers  to 
ask,  any  questions  about  our  army,  about  the 
immediate  purpose  of  our  strong  party  of  ob- 
servation then  at  La  Hedionda,  or  any  other 
question  which  the  Lieutenant  could  not  an- 
swer with  perfect  freedom  and  propriety.  He 
then  figured  as  a  mere  spectator  in  the  brigade, 
in  its  march  to  the  valley  north  of  Saltillo,  and, 
during  the  battle,  in  its  advance  up  into  the 
Pass  between  the  city  and  Buena  Yista.  All 
the  time  it  was  under  the  fire  of  Webster's, 
Donaldson's,  and  S hover's  guns,  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  in  imminent  peril  of  his  life 
from  the  shot  of  his  most  intimate  friends, 
then  cutting  up  the  brigade  about  him.  On 
the  morning  of  the  24th,  he  still  accompanied 
General  Minon,  as  he  left  the  valley  by  the 
Palomas  Pass,  and  as  he  afterwards  circled 
around  by  the  way  of  San  Antonio  to  La  He- 
dionda, and  thence,  finally,  to  Encarnacion. 
On  being  released  at  that  point,  General  Min- 
on kindly  presented  the  Lieutenant  with  a 
most  beautiful  cloak,  made  of  black  velvet 
and  richly  embroidered ;  and  also  with  a  horse, 
on  which  to  return  to  Agua  Nueva.  Santa 
Anna  likewise  gave  him  a  passport  under  his 
1.0 


146  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA, 

own  hand.  Justice  toward  General  Minon, 
who  is  represented  as  being  a  most  accom- 
plished and  elegant  gentleman,  requires  that 
his  kind  and  considerate  deportment  toward 
one  of  our  officers,  whom  the  fortune  of  war 
had  thrown  into  his  hands,  should  be  fully 
stated. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  Colonel  Belknap  was 
furnished  with  a  command,  and  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Encarnacion  to  cut  up  the  enemy's 
rear  guard  of  cavalry,  reported  as  still  remain- 
ing at  that  place.  This  command  was  com- 
posed of  the  four  companies  of  the  1st  and 
2d  Dragoons  ;  two  pieces  from  Washington's 
Battery  ;  two  or  three  hundred  volunteer  cav- 
alry, including  Major  McCulloch's  Texas  spy- 
company,  and  Colonel  Bissell's  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteers  ;  the  last  in  wagons, 
so  as  to  move  rapidly  and  still  be  fresh  for 
combat.  It  left  Agua  Nueva  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  the  purpose  being  to  march 
most  of  the  way  in  the  night,  the  better 
to  elude  observation,  and  then  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  his  camp  at  daybreak  the  following 
morning.  There  was  every  indication,  for  the 
whole  of  the  way,  of  a  most  hurried  retreat 
and  the  most  dreadful  distress.     The  road  was 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  147 

literally  strewed  with  the  dead  and  dying,  and 
with  those  perishing  from  fatigue  and  want  of 
water.  It  was  a  most  melancholy  and  touch- 
ing picture,  that  of  soldiers  in  uniform,  who, 
having  been  spared  in  battle,  were  now  yield- 
ing up  their  lives  without  a  wound. 

Colonel  Belknap  arrived  at  Encarnacion  just 
at  the  first  gray  of  morning  ;  but  nearly  all  of 
the  enemy  had  fled.  Several  white  flags  were 
flying  upon  the  battlements  of  the  church  of 
the  hacienda  and  other  elevated  points,  indicat- 
ing any  thing  but  resistance  on  the  part  of  those 
who  still  remained.  Some  few  officers  and 
men,  on  seeing  the  approach  of  our  party,  at- 
tempted flight  by  mounting  their  horses  and 
hurrying  away.  The  Texas  spy-company 
started  in  pursuit  of  them,  and,  as  it  was  a 
level  and  open  plain,  the  whole  chase  was  in 
full  view  of  the  command.  The  Mexicans, 
one  after  another,  were  caught  to  a  man,  and 
conducted  back  to  the  hacienda. 

We  imagined,  that,  during  the  battle,  and 
upon  the  field  when  the  conflict  was  ended, 
and  afterwards  upon  the  road  over  which  the 
enemy  had  retreated,  we  had  witnessed  human 
suffering  in  its  most  distressing  forms.  But 
such  was  not  the  case.     The  scene  presented 


148  BATTLE     OP     BUENA    VISTA. 

to  our  eyes  on  entering  within  the  walls  of 
Encarnacion  was  so  filled  with  extreme  and 
utter  agony,  that  we  at  once  ceased  to  shudder 
at  the  remembrance  of  any  misery  we  had  ever 
before  looked  upon.  There  were  three  hun- 
dred men  crowded  together  in  that  wretched 
place,  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  of  whom 
had  been  wounded  at  Buena  Vista  and  brought 
thus  far.  There  were  five  officers  amongst 
them.  As  they  had  received  but  little  surgi- 
cal attention,  and  had  been  harassed  and  worn 
down  by  travelling  so  far,  while  debilitated 
with  pain  and  loss  of  blood,  their  wounds 
were  nearly  all  either  gangrened  or  highly  in- 
flamed. Many  of  them  were  enduring  the  most 
excruciating  torments ;  many  were  delirious 
from  excess  of  anguish ;  while  others,  whose 
wounds  had  become  mortified,  were  perfectly 
composed,  and  yet  were  even  more  piteous  to 
behold,  as  their  very  quietness  was  but  a  more 
certain  indication  of  speedy  dissolution.  In  fine, 
the  whole  hacienda  presented,  at  one  glance, 
a  picture  of  death,  embracing  all  the  degrees, 
from  the  strong  man,  bearing  up  with  forti- 
tude against  the  sure  and  speedy  fate  which 
awaited  him,  down  to  the  poor  mortal  strug- 
gling in  the  last  throe  of  existence.     And  all 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  149 

intermixed  with  them,  were  the  bodies  of  those 
who  had  just  commenced  the  long  journey, 
yet  warm,  and  lying  in  the  various  posi- 
tions they  were  severally  in  when  life  depart- 
ed. Poor  fellows !  No  beloved  eye  had  beamed 
tearfully  upon  them  in  their  last  moments. 
No  voice  of  affection  had  murmured  in  their 
ear  little  gentle  words  of  hope,  or  that  touch- 
ing comfort,  "  We  shall  meet  again!"  And 
there  was  no  kind  hand  to  honor  their  remains 
by  straightening  them  for  the  grave. 

During  the  fury  and  excitement  of  battle,  we 
had  no  time  to  indulge  in  feelings  of  sympathy 
and  commiseration  for  distress ;  particularly 
when  we  witnessed  it  among  those  of  our  ene- 
mies who  had  been  stricken  down.  Then,  we 
were  Americans,  and  they  Mexicans,  our  bitter 
and  relentless  foes.  Now,  meeting  together 
when  the  thunder  and  excitement  of  the  battle 
had  subsided,  we  were  men,  and  were  meeting 
too  on  that  level,  of  which  all  become  sensible  in 
the  presence  of  death.  The  Mexicans  had  been 
taught  to  believe  the  Americans  were  almost 
savages  ;  but,  when  they  saw  our  men  kneeling 
down  beside  their  suffering  comrades,  grasping 
them  kindly  by  the  hand,  giving  them  water, 
and  all  the  bread  and  meat  they  had  brought 


150  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

for  themselves,  they  were  affected  even  to 
tears,  and  feelingly  exclaimed.  "  Buenos  Ameri- 
canos !  Buenos  Americanos!"  There  was  a 
priest  there,  dressed  in  his  white  robes  ;  and, 
without  exaggeration  it  may  be  said,  his 
whole  time,  while  we  were  there,  was  occu- 
pied in  administering  the  sacrament  of  ex- 
treme unction  to  those  who  were  dying. 

At  Encarnacion,  we  learned  that  Santa 
Anna  himself  had  hurried  on  directly  to  the 
capital,  but  that  all  that  was  left  of  his  army, 
in  a  state  of  almost  positive  disorganization, 
had  retired  by  the  way  of  Cedral,  Vanegas, 
and  Matahuala ;  General  Minon's  brigade  cov- 
ering the  retreat.  Couriers  preceded  the  Presi- 
dent, announcing  to  the  people  a  brilliant  vic- 
tory over  the  Americans  !  *  Bonfires  and 
illuminations  lit  up  every  town  and  city  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
Fetes  and  balls,  and  merry  peals  of  bells,  and 
grand  processions  and  orations,  were  the  con- 
sequences of  the  report  of  a  triumph,  which 
flew  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land.  As  early  as  the  27th  of  February, 
Santa  Anna  wrote  to  the  Minister  of  War  and 

*  See  Appendix,  H. 


BATTLE     OF    BUENA     VISTA.  151 

Marine  an  account  of  the  operations  of 
his  army,  and  concluded  by  saying ;  "  The 
nation,  for  which  a  triumph  has  been  gained 
at  the  cost  of  so  many  sufferings,  will  learn, 
that,  if  we  were  able  to  conquer  in  the  midst 
of  so  many  embarrassments,  there  will  be  no 
doubt  as  to  our  final  success  in  the  struggle 
we  sustain,  if  every  spirit  but  rallies  to  the 
one  sacred  object  of  common  defence.  The 
army  has  done  more  than  could  be  expected 
under  the  laws  of  nature.  After  a  march  of 
twenty  leagues,  [!]  sixteen  of  them  without 
water,  and  without  other  food  than  a  single 
ration,  which  was  dealt  out  at  Encarnacion,* 
it  endured  the  fatigue  of  combat  for  two  days, 
and  finally  triumphed."  What  a  triumph! 
If  the  manner  in  which  the  Mexican  forces 
retreated  from  Buena  "Vista,  and  went  back 
toward  the  capital  of  the  Republic,  was  that 
which  should  characterize  the  return  of  a  vic- 
torious army,  God  spare  us  from  ever  win- 
ning a  battle  ! 

We  afterwards  learned  from  the  Mexicans 
themselves,  that  every  hacienda  and  rancho, 
on  the  road  over  which  their  countrymen  re- 
treated, was  crowded  with  the  wounded,  and 

*  See  Appendix,  I. 


152  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

those  who  were  sick  and  disabled  from  the 
hardships  and  sufferings  incident  to  such  a 
confused  rout  j  and  that,  finally,  of  all  that 
army  which,  one  month  before,  had  left  San 
Luis  Potosi,  confident  of  success,  and  moving 
off  in  its  strength  with  inspiring  music,  with 
pomp  and  magnificence,  with  the  brazen 
clangor  of  trumpets,  and  with  banners  flying, 
—  an  army  commanded  by  the  President  in 
person,  and  the  finest  the  Republic  had  ever 
sent  to  the  field,  —  there  returned  less  than 
12,000  men,  and  they  worn  down  by  fatigue, 
with  loss  of  discipline  and  morale,  and  with 
all  their  high  bearing  completely  subdued. 

During  the  night  of  the  2d  of  March,  Colo- 
nel Belknap's  command  returned  to  the  camp 
at  Agua  Nueva.  On  learning  the  wretched 
condition  of  those  of  the  enemy  left  at  En- 
carnacion,  General  Taylor  sent  to  their  relief 
eighteen  mule-loads  of  provisions  and  other 
necessaries,  and,  at  the  same  time,  had  such 
of  the  wounded  as  were  capable  of  being 
removed,  brought  to  Saltillo,  where  they  could 
receive  better  attention. 

While  the  main  "Army  of  Occupation" 
was  thus  employed  in  the  advanced  points  to 


BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA.     153 

which  its  operations  had  been  pushed,  its  line 
of  communication  with  its  depots  of  supplies 
at  Camargo,  Matamoras,  and  the  Brazos  St. 
Iago,  was  entirely  cut  off  by  the  large  cavalry 
force,  under  General  Urrea  and  General  Ro- 
mero, then  on  the  road  between  Monterey  and 
the  Rio  Grande.  One  of  our  trains  had  been 
attacked,  its  escort  captured,  and  its  unarmed 
teamsters  had  been  butchered,  and  then  burnt 
with  their  wagons.  Attempts  to  destroy  sev- 
eral other  trains  had  likewise  been  made  ;  but 
the  different  forces  which  guarded  them  had 
the  better  fortune  to  drive  the  enemy  off,  and, 
on  two  or  three  occasions,  to  cause  him  con- 
siderable loss.  Now  that  Santa  Anna's  prin- 
cipal army  had  been  beaten  from  our  front,  it 
was  an  easy  matter  for  General  Taylor  to  open 
his  communication  to  the  rear.  For  this  pur- 
pose, leaving  General  Wool  in  command  at 
Agua  Nueva,  he  started,  on  the  8th  of  March, 
for  Monterey,  whence,  proceeding  in  person 
against  General  Urrea  and  General  Romero, 
he  at  once  forced  them  beyond  the  Sierra 
Madre,  thus  leaving  the  Avhole  valley  of  the 
Rio  Bravo  del  Norte  again  in  our  possession. 

At  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista,  the  conflict 


154  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

was  begun  with  only  4691  men  on  the  Ameri- 
can side.  Santa  Anna's  army  numbered  more 
than  21,000,  in  our  front,  all  regulars ;  General 
Minon's  brigade  of  veteran  cavalry  of  2000, 
and  the  ranchero  force  at  Cappellania  of  1000, 
in  our  rear ;  beside  the  brigade  of  General 
Urrea  and  General  Romero,  east  of  Monterey. 
The  whole  of  this  force,  reckoning  from  the 
Rio  Grande,  was  cut  up  or  driven  back  far  to 
the  south  of  the  mountains,  and  all  by  our 
handful  of  men,  in  less  than  twenty  days 
after  the  first  gun  was  fired. 

The  effects  of  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista 
upon  the  war  were  incalculable.  Had  Santa 
Anna  destroyed  General  Taylor's  army,  —  and, 
under  the  circumstances,  defeat  and  total  de- 
struction were  synonymous,  —  he  could  have 
poured  his  triumphant  column  through  that 
gate  of  the  mountains,  the  Rinconada  Pass, 
into  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  ;  and  then, 
subsisting  upon  our  stores,  fighting  with  our 
guns  and  our  ammunition,  and  using  our  ex- 
tensive means  of  transportation  with  which 
to  pursue  his  onward  course,  what  could  have 
interposed  to  prevent  this  self-styled  "  Napo- 
leon of  the  West "  from  executing  his  favorite 
vaunt,  that  he  would  plant  the  flag  of  Mexico 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  155 

upon  the  banks  of  the  Sabine  ?  In  addition  to 
all  this,  Colonel  Doniphan's  command,  which 
fought  the  battle  of  Sacramento  on  the  28th 
of  February,  must  inevitably  have  been  cut 
off,  and  every  advantage,  which,  from  the 
battle  of  Palo  Alto  up  to  that  time,  had  been 
won  at  so  much  cost  of  blood  and  treasure, 
would  have  been  snatched  from  us,  and  the 
whole  war  farther  removed  than  ever  from  any 
prospect  of  a  termination.  Had  Santa  Anna 
been  victorious  over  the  Americans  at  Buena 
Vista,  and  then  pushed  his  operations  into 
Texas,  with  a  force,  it  will  be  remembered,  of 
over  26,000  regulars,  well  supplied  with  all 
the  materiel  of  war,  would  the  investment  of 
Vera  Cruz  have  been  attempted  at  the  time 
it  was  ?  Would  not  the  veteran  army  of  the 
United  States  have  been  compelled  first  to  re- 
trace its  steps  in  order  to  force  back  the  veteran 
army  of  Mexico  ?  *  Suppose  Santa  Anna  had 
been  successful,  would  he  not  have  had  time, 
had  it  been  his  policy  so  to  do,  to  reach  Vera 
Cruz,  and  attack  General  Scott,  even  before  the 
city  and  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  d'  Ulloa  had  sur- 
rendered ?  Or,  had  he  marched  directly  to  Cerro 

*  See  Appendix,  J. 


156  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

Gordo,  with  such  an  army  to  oppose  the 
advance  of  the  General-in-Chief  to  the  capital, 
how  immense  the  force  we  should  have  been 
obliged  to  send  into  the  field ;  how  great 
must  have  been  the  destruction  of  life  ;  and 
what  an  expense  of  treasure  and  of  time,  too, 
must  there  have  been,  before  our  flag  would 
have  floated,  as  it  now  does,  above  the  towers 
of  the  ancient  city  of  the  Aztecs.  Besides,  had 
Santa  Anna  been  successful  in  his  northern 
campaign,  the  whole  nation  would  have'  been 
animated  with  enthusiasm,  and  would  have  risen 
in  arms.  The  internal  dissensions,  by  which  its 
energies  were  paralyzed,  would  have  disap- 
peared. The  cries  of  the  numerous  parties 
opposed  to  the  government  would  at  once 
have  been  drowned  by  shouts  of  triumph. 
Then,  with  her  population  of  seven  millions, 
with  her  people  united  and  taking  up  arms,  and 
with  her  difficult  mountain  passes,  Mexico  would 
have  been  a  formidable  antagonist  to  any  in- 
vading army,  which  should  attempt  to  pene- 
trate to  her  capital.  It  needed  but  one  victory 
to  produce  this  great  change.  And  so  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  country  understood  it.  They 
had,  therefore,  spent  much  time,  and  exercised 
great  care,  in  collecting,  even  from  remote  states, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA    VISTA.  157 

in  organizing,  and  in  preparing  at  all  points, 
what  was  called  "  the  Liberating  Army  of  the 
North."  It  was  composed  of  the  very  flower 
of  Mexico,  and  was  commanded  by  her  most 
distinguished  warrior,  —  the  prestige  of  whose 
name  alone  was  regarded  as  worth  a  host. 
It  was  a  beautiful  body  of  men ;  the  just 
pride  and  the  hope  of  every  patriot  in  the 
land.  In  a  country  whose  vitals  were  torn  by 
open  rebellion,  as  well  as  by  the  insidious  and 
assassin-like  machinations  of  plotting  factions, 
—  without  a  dollar  in  her  treasury,  and  with 
ruined  credit,  —  it  had  been  a  great,  a  most  diffi- 
cult, effort  to  produce  it.  It  went  forth,  and 
the  whole  nation  kept  a  listening  ear  turned 
toward  the  direction  of  its  march.  Each 
breeze  from  the  north  was  expected  to  bear 
upon  its  wings  a  cry  of  victory.  It  came  at 
length,  and  glad  sounds,  as  of  a  Jubilee, 
arose  from  every  city  and  hamlet ;  but,  ere 
their  echoes  had  died  away,  the  shattered 
remnant  of  an  army  was  seen  returning  ;  —  an 
army  defeated  and  ruined.  It  was  all  that 
was  left  of  the  Liberating  Army  of  the  North. 
The  whole  Republic  comprehended  at  once  the 
character  of  the  triumph  it  had  just  celebrated, 


158  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

and,   losing  heart,   despaired   of  success  from 
that  moment. 

Such  were  the  results  of  the  operations  of 
General  Taylor's  little  "Army  of  Occupation  " 
during  one  short  month. 

When  the  disparity  of  numbers,  —  the  long 
time   in  which  the  two  armies   struggled  to- 
gether, —  their  condition,  respectively,  as  they 
approached  each  other,  and  their  comparative 
condition    after  they  had  separated,  —  are  all) 
carefully     considered,    the     Battle     of    Buengr 
Vista  will  probably  be  regarded  as  the  greatest 
ever  fought  on  this  continent ;  and  it  may  be^ 
doubted  if  there  can  be  found  one  that  sur-j 
passes  it  in  the  history  of  any  nation  or  of 
any  age.  ^J 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX. 


A. 

(See  page  35.) 

The  following  letter,  descriptive  of  the  marches  al- 
luded to  in  the  text,  was  written  by  the  author  of  the 
preceding  narrative,  for  the  Washington  "  Union." 
As  it  may  be  interesting,  from  the  account  it  gives  of 
the  country  passed  over  by  the  "  Centre  Division," 
commanded  by  General  Wool,  it  is  here  published  at 
length. 

"Camp  of  the  Centre  Division,  near  Parras, 

"State  of  Cohahuila, Mexico,  December  13,  1848. 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  Union: 

"  The  numerous  correspondents  to  your  paper,  who 
are  with  General  Taylor  and  General  Kearney,  have 
kept  your  readers  well  advised  of  all  the  transactions 
of  the  '  Army  of  Occupation '  and  the  '  Army  of  the 
West,'  even  to  the  minutest  detail.  But  the  '  Centre 
Division,'  under  General  Wool,  although  it  has  ad- 
vanced farther  into  Mexico  than  either  of  the  other 
two,  has  hardly  been  heard  from  since  the  day  it 
passed  the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte. 

"  The  Centre  Division  is  now  within  600  miles  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean.     Its  march,  since  it  first  passed  the 
natural  boundary  of  the  two  republics,  has  been  a  long 
11 


APPENDIX  , 

and  excessively  arduous  one ;  and  I  now  devote  the 
first  leisure  hour  I  have  had  for  a  great  while  to  giving 
you  a  brief  and  hurried  account  of  some  of  the  events 
which  thus  far  have  marked  its  progress. 

"  On  the  8th  of  October,  the  advance  of  this  col- 
umn, commanded  by  General  Wool  in  person,  and 
numbering  1954  in  the  aggregate,  arrived  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  near  the  Mexican  town  San 
Juan  Bautista,  better  known  as  Presidio.  It  had  been 
eleven  days  in  traversing  the  country  from  San 
Antonio  de  Bexar  to  that  point,  a  distance  of  182 
miles.  A  flying  bridge  had  been  constructed  by 
Captain  Fraser,  of  the  Engineers,  and  transported  in 
wagons  from  San  Antonio,  for  the  passage  of  the  riv- 
er. It  was  soon  put  in  operation  ;  and,  by  the  evening 
of  the  11th,  the  whole  of  the  command,  and  the  im- 
mense train  of  stores  which  accompanied  it,  were  safe- 
ly landed  upon  the  opposite  shore.  The  Rio  Grande 
at  that  place  was  found  to  be  270  yards  wide.  Its 
current  was  exceedingly  rapid,  and  its  waters  turbid 
and  of  a  yellowish-gray  color,  like  those  of  the 
Missouri. 

"  At  this  point  General  Wool  published  an  order,  in 
which  he  defined  the  course  he  intended  to  pursue.  He 
said  that  he  had  not  come  to  make  war  upon  the  people 
or  peasantry  of  the  country,  but  to  compel  the  govern- 
ment of  Mexico  to  render  justice  to  the  United  States. 
All,  therefore,  who  did  not  take  up  arms  against  us, 
but  remained  quiet  and  peaceable  at  their  homes,  he 
should  not  molest  or  interfere  with,  either  as  regarded 
their  persons  or   their  property  ;  and  all  those  who 


APPENDIX.  163 

should  furnish  supplies  would  be  treated  kindly,  and  be 
liberally  paid  for  whatever  we  should  receive  from 
them. 

"  The  better  to  protect  the  ferry  established  upon  the 
river,  and  to  keep  it  secure  for  the  troops  and  supplies 
to  be  forwarded  by  Inspector-General  Churchill,  com- 
manding the  rear  column,  Captain  Fraser  was  di- 
rected to  construct  a  redoubt  as  a  tete  de  pont  on  the 
right  bank,  and,  on  the  left,  a  field-work  ;  —  to  be  de- 
fended by  two  companies.  A  force  sufficient  to  carry 
into  effect  such  a  purpose  being  detached  from  the  col- 
umn, the  general  pushed  on  to  San  Juan  Bautista. 
This  town  contains  two  thousand  inhabitants,  all  Mex- 
icans. The  buildings  are  of  stone,  or  unburnt  bricks 
(adohe),  and,  with  but  little  preparation,  are  capable  of 
being  easily  defended  against  a  superior  force.  Not 
the  slightest  resistance,  however,  was  offered,  although 
the  people  are  represented  as  being  exceedingly  hos- 
tile toward  us.  But  a  few  weeks  before  our  arrival, 
three  or  four  companies  of  dragoons  are  said  to  have 
been  quartered  there  ;  but  they  had  fallen  back  on  the 
main  forces  assembled  at  Monterey.  Presidio,  like 
Bexar,  Guerrero,  &c,  was  one  of  the  points  estab- 
lished early  in  the  settlement  of  the  country  for  the 
confinement  and  labor  of  state  prisoners  ;  and  by  an 
edict  of  the  king  of  Spain,  published  in  1772,  it  was 
created  a  military  post,  and  made  one  of  the  cordon 
then  formed  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier. 

*"  The  Jesuits  erected  a  large  mission  within  a  mile 
of  the  city  similar  to  the  Alamo,  La  Purisima 
Concepcion,  San  Jose,  San  Juan,  and  Espada,  near 


164  APPENDIX. 

San  Antonio.  It  is  a  massive  structure,  built  entirely 
of  stone,  but  now  fast  falling  to  decay.  When  we 
passed  it,  the  wind  was  howling  through  its  ruined 
arches,  like  a  voice  of  mourning  for  those  gone  from 
beneath  them,  never  to  return.  Mitred  bishop  and 
cowled  monk,  veiled  nun  and  timid  devotee,  have 
long  since  passed  away ;  and  the  grass  and  wild-flow- 
ers grow  in  the  deserted  corridors  and  over  the 
crumbling  walls,  and  flocks  of  goats  herd  in  the 
solitary  courts. 

"  The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  this  city  we  found 
to  be  very  fertile,  especially  where  it  was  artificially 
irrigated.  Cotton,  sugar,  corn,  wheat,  sweet  potatoes, 
and  almost  every  description  of  garden  vegetables, 
besides  figs,  oranges,  peaches,  and  other  fruits,  were 
raised  with  but  little  labor,  and  in  considerable  abun- 
dance. We  were  able  to  procure  a  sufficient  supply 
of  forage  for  the  use  of  the  command,  and  at  very 
reasonable  rates. 

"  Going  from  thence  westward,  the  column  was 
obliged  to  march  twenty-six  miles  without  water, 
when  it  arrived  at  the  town  of  San  Juan  de  Nava,  sit- 
uated in  the  middle  of  an  immense  plain,  and  watered 
entirely  by  irrigating  ditches,  which  are  said  to  have 
their  fountains  in  a  range  of  hills  twenty  miles  to  the 
left  of  the  trace.  This  town  is  represented  as  con- 
taining twelve  hundred  inhabitants,  and  is  built  en- 
tirely of  adobe.  Three  fourths  of  the  houses  were 
not  occupied  at  all,  and  were  fast  becoming  untenant- 
able. The  people,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  were 
wretchedly  poor,  and  even    more  ignorant  than  the 


APPENDIX.  165 

Indians  of  our  plains.  The  business  of  the  place  is 
the  raising  of  stock,  which  is  tended  by  herdsmen,  and 
driven  from  point  to  point  upon  the  prairie,  that 
spreads  out  almost  to  the  horizon  on  every  side. 
In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Nava  there  are  exten- 
sive fields  of  corn  ;  and  there,  likewise,  a  sufficient 
supply  was  procured  for  the  forage  of  all  the  animals 
of  the  column. 

"  From  Presidio  to  Nava,  the  whole  country  is  a 
perfect  level.  In  the  time  of  the  Jesuits,  it  was  all 
highly  cultivated  ;  but  now  there  is  not  a  single  hu- 
man habitation  between  those  two  places.  In  the 
olden  times,  when  it  was  smiling  with  plentiful  crops 
of  corn  and  grain,  and  was  enlivened  by  the  voices  of 
husbandmen,  the  lowing  of  cows,  the  bleating  of 
numerous  flocks,  the  tinkling  of  bells,  and  the  noise 
and  hum  of  life,  how  beautiful  it  must  have  been, 
compared  with  its  present  desolation !  Marks  of  the 
irrigating  dikes  traverse  the  plain  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  and  at  distant  intervals,  along  the  wayside, 
are  seen  the  ruins  of  many  of  the  ancient  granaries, 
once  filled  with  plentiful  harvests,  but  now  empty, 
and  fast  crumbling  back  to  the  level  from  whence 
they  were  reared. 

"  A  few  miles  west  of  Nava,  and  to  the  left  of  Gen- 
eral Wool's  trace,  there  is  a  beautiful  island  of  timber, 
which  the  Mexicans  call  El  Arbolado  de  los  Angeles, 
—  The  Grove  of  the  Angels.  It  is  said  to  surround  a 
fine  spring  of  water,  and  is  considered  by  the  inhabit- 
ants as  a  sacred  place.     This  is   mentioned  merely 


166  APPENDIX. 

to  illustrate  the  fact,  that  in  this  country,  as  in  all  oth- 
ers where  the  people  are  ignorant  and  superstitious, 
every  natural  object  of  beauty  or  sublimity,  —  wheth- 
er mountain,  plain,  grove,  or  river,  —  is  invested  with 
some  name  calculated  to  awaken  poetic  and  religious 
associations. 

"  The  next  city  we  visited  was  San  Fernando  de 
Rosas,  containing  between  three  and  four  thousand 
souls.  It  is  embosomed  in  an  extensive  mot  of  tim- 
ber, which,  from  its  size,  and  the  character  of  the 
trees,  we  supposed  must  have  been  planted  when  the 
city  itself  was  first  built.  A  fine  stream  of  clear 
water,  called  Arroyo  Escondido,  —  Hidden  Brook,  — 
runs  on  nearly  three  sides  of  it;  and,  stretching  off  all 
around,  lies  one  of  the  most  fertile  plains  in  Mex- 
ico. There  are  two  extensive  plazas  in  San  Fernan- 
do, each  surrounded  by  the  residences  of  the  most 
wealthy  citizens,  which,  although  built  of  stone  and 
in  the  Mexican  style,  have  an  air  of  neatness  and 
taste  we  had  hardly  expected  to  see.  The  people 
we  found  to  be  very  friendly  in  their  feelings  toward 
us  ;  and  whatever  supplies  we  required,  they  furnished 
with  much  cheerfulness.  When  we  commenced  our 
line  of  march  the  next  day,  every  eye  was  turned  to 
take  one  more  look  of  San  Fernando,  —  literally, 
of  Roses.  And  the  scene  it  presented,  with  the 
quaint  dome  of  its  old  church  surmounted  by  a  cross, 
and  rising  above  the  surrounding  foliage,  —  the  pure 
white  of  its  edifices,  glistening  here  and  there  through 
the  dark  green  trees,  —  and  its  singular  position,  like 
that  of  an  oasis,  not  in  a  desert,  but  on  an  uninhabited 


APPENDIX.  167 

plain,  —  was  one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  pleasing 
we  had  ever  beheld,  and  one  we  shall  long  love  to 
remember. 

"  Our  course  now  became  more  southerly,  the  direc- 
tion being  for  the  head  waters  of  the  Santarita,  and  a 
pass  through  the  Sierra  de  San  Jose.  We  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  before  the  country  began  to  be  more  ster- 
ile and  broken,  and  long  ranges  of  mountains  to 
skirt  the  horizon,  both  upon  our  right  hand  and  upon 
our  left ;  while,  in  front,  a  formidable  chain  of  them 
presented  a  barrier  which  it  appeared  impossible  we 
should  ever  be  able  to  pass  with  our  artillery  and 
immensely  long  train  of  wagons.  However,  as  we  pro- 
ceeded, valley  after  valley  opened  before  us,  through 
which  our  road  wound  upwards,  until  at  last  we  attained 
their  very  summit.  Even  were  there  room  enough 
in  this  letter  for  the  execution  of  such  a  purpose,  it 
would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  magnificence  of 
the  view  then  spread  out  before  us.  Toward  the  east 
we  looked  down  on  the  widely  extended  plain  over 
which  we  had  so  long  been  journeying.  In  the  dis- 
tance the  grove  of  San  Fernando  was  still  visible  ; 
while  at  our  feet  the  valley  of  the  Santarita  lay  like  a 
map,  with  the  winding  course  of  the  river  distinctly 
traced  upon  it  by  the  dark  line  of  foliage  that  fringes 
its  banks.  On  either  hand  the  peaks  of  the  range 
upon  which  we  then  stood  appeared  less  and  less  as 
they  became  more  removed  in  perspective,  until,  in 
the  far-off  blue,  their  outlines  faded  from  our  sight, 
and  mingled  with  the  faint  undulations  of  the  sur- 
rounding horizon ;  while,  in  the  west,  the  Sierra  de 


168  APPENDIX. 

Santa  Rosa  ascended  like  a  huge  and  battlemented 
wall,  with  its  serrated  crest  jutting  aloft  in  strong  re- 
lief against  the  clear  sky,  and  its  precipitous  sides 
hung  about  with  festoons  of  white  and  purple  clouds. 

"  The  San  Jose  mountains  are  clad  only  with  a 
thin  covering  of  grass,  sprinkled  here  and  there 
with  isolated  tufts  of  sotol,  cactus,  palmetto,  and  yucca 
aloifolia.  Their  upper  stratum  is  fossiliferous  lime- 
stone, but  below  they  are  reported  as  being  very  rich 
in  silver  and  copper.  Many  years  ago,  a  mine  is 
said  to  have  been  opened  a  few  miles  to  the  left  of  our 
road,  and  operations  in  it  were  carried  on  with  con- 
siderable success ;  but  at  length  the  Camanches  be- 
came so  troublesome,  that  the  workmen  were  obliged 
to  abandon  it. 

"  From  these  mountains  we  descended  through  a 
tortuous  gorge  to  the  Llano  de  San  Jose,  —  a  broad 
plain,  extending  with  few  interruptions  to  the  foot  of 
the  Sierra  de  Santa  Rosa,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  ; 
and  our  route  lay  directly  across  it.  Midway  in  this 
plain,  and  only  three  miles  apart,  we  encountered  two 
formidable  rivers, — the  Alamos  and  Sabinas,  which, 
at  their  junction,  form  the  Solado,  an  affluent  to  the 
Rio  Bravo  from  the  west,  and  uniting  with  it  at 
Guerrero.  They  were  each  about  forty  yards  in 
width,  upwards  of  four  feet  in  depth,  and  had  a 
current  of  almost  incredible  rapidity.  In  short,  they 
were  absolute  torrents  ;  to  cross  which  we  had  neither 
bridges  nor  boats,  nor  the  means  wherewith  to  con- 
struct them ;  and  it  was  almost  a  matter  of  impossi- 


APPENDIX.  169 

bility  for  horses  or  mules  to  maintain  their  footing  in 
the  water,  even  for  a  moment.  However,  by  the  as- 
sistance of  ropes  and  the  active  exertions  of  the  men, 
the  difficulties  they  presented  were  at  length  over- 
come ;  and  all  the  forces,  with  the  cannon,  and  the 
ammunition  and  provision  trains,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  heavily  laden  wagons,  passed  them  both, 
without  any  material  loss  or  accident. 

"  The  direction  of  our  march  was  then  for  the  city 
of  Santa  Rosa,  which  is  situated  immediately  at  the 
foot  of  the  Sierra  of  that  name.  It  contains  be- 
tween two  and  three  thousand  inhabitants,  is  built 
of  the  same  material  as  the  other  towns  we  had 
passed,  and  is  capable  of  being  as  easily  defended. 
Many  years  ago,  it  was  a  place  of  much  importance 
from  the  rich  veins  of  silver  found  in  its  vicinity  ;  but, 
the  political  dissensions  of  this  unhappy  country 
prostrating,  as  they  did,  every  thing  like  enterprise,  the 
mines,  by  not  being  worked,  were  allowed  to  be- 
come filled  with  water,  from  which  they  have  not  yet 
been  entirely  cleared.  It  has  been  left  for  an  Amer- 
ican citizen,  named  Dr.  Long,  a  resident  in  Santa 
Rosa,  to  undertake  their  drainage ;  and  he  will  soon, 
no  doubt,  reap  an  abundant  reward  for  his  labors. 

"  The  General  entered  the  city  with  his  whole  force 
on  the  24th  day  of  October,  and  without  meeting 
the  slightest  opposition  from  the  inhabitants.  They, 
in  turn,  likewise  furnished  all  the  supplies  he  re- 
quired ;  and,  in  fact,  regarded  the  approach  of  his 
column  with  feelings  of  less  dread  than  they  would 


170  APPENDIX. 

have  done,  had  it  been  composed  of  troops  of  their 
own  nation.  Before  the  Centre  Division  left  San 
Antonio  de  Bexar,  General  Wool  had  made  every  effort 
to  procure  accurate  information  respecting  the  va- 
rious routes  to  Chihuahua.  He  was  assured,  that 
whichever  he  should  select,  he  must  of  necessity- 
pass  near  or  through  Santa  Rosa ;  and  that  from 
there  he  might  have  it  in  his  power  to  make  choice  of 
any  of  the  three  following,  viz.  through  Nacimiento 
del  Rio,  or  Head  of  the  River  Sabinas,  via  San  Carlos 
and  Alamo  ;  through  Puerto  de  Obayos,  by  the  way 
of  Cuatro  Cienagas  and  Santa  Catarina ;  or  through 
Monclova  and  Parras.  The  whole  country  between 
the  Sierra  de  Santa  Rosa  and  Chihuahua,  as  far 
north  as  Paso  del  Norte  and  south  to  Monclova,  was 
represented  as  consisting  of  mountains  and  extensive 
arid  plains,  with  few  inhabitants  and  no  supplies,  and 
destitute,  in  a  great  measure,  of  water.  When  he 
reached  Santa  Rosa,  he  found  these  representations 
confirmed,  and  that  the  two  first-named  roads  were 
altogether  impracticable,  for  precisely  those  reasons. 
To  a  great  extent  they  were  nothing  but  mule-trails, 
over  which,  so  far  as  he  could  learn,  no  wagon  had 
ever  passed,  and  where,  too,  for  distances  exceeding 
ninety  miles,  not  one  drop  of  water  was  to  be  found. 
To  attempt  to  lead  an  army  over  such  a  country  by 
such  roads  would,  therefore,  have  been  an  act  of 
madness  ;  and  one  which  could  not  for  a  moment  be 
seriously  thought  of.  He  accordingly  adopted  the 
only  alternative  left  him,  which  was  to  push  on  to 
Monclova,  and  from  thence  to  Parras,  where  he  would 


APPENDIX.  171 

strike  the  great  road  from  Saltillo  to  Chihuahua,  upon 
which  he  could,  without  much  further  difficulty,  pro- 
ceed to  the  latter  place.  Our  course  was,  therefore, 
changed  directly  south,  through  the  valley  lying  be- 
tween the  Sierras  of  Santa  Rosa  and  San  Jose.  For 
nearly  the  whole  distance  we  met  with  few  indica- 
tions that  the  country  was  at  all  inhabited,  save 
occasional  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats,  tended  by  soli- 
tary pastores,  and  numbering,  in  some  instances,  as 
many  as  20,000. 

"  As  we  proceeded,  the  barrenness  and  sterility  of 
the  valley  increased ;  the  soil  being  unable  to  support 
much  else  beside  the  countless  varieties  of  the  cactus, 
dwarf  mesquite,  sotol,  yuca,  and  the  celebrated  agave 
Americana,  —  the  century  plant  of  the  north,  and  the 
maguey  of  Mexico.  From  the  agave  the  people  of 
this  country  make  their  national  drink, — pulque,  the 
process  of  manufacturing  which  has  been  so  often 
described ;  and  this,  when  distilled,  forms  a  nauseous 
and  intoxicating  liquor,  called  mescal. 

"  The  mountain  sceneiy,  surrounding  us  on  eve- 
ry side,  we  had  never  seen  equalled  ;  and  many  was 
the  picture  presented  to  us,  when  the  sight  of  long 
ranges  and  groups  of  them,  with  their  precipitous  sides, 
now  in  deep  shadow,  now  standing  sharply  out  in  the 
bright  sunlight,  would  have  filled  with  ecstasy  a  Sal- 
vator  Rosa. 

"  At  length  we  arrived  at  the  Paso  de  las  Hermanas, 
situated  in  which  is  an  extensive  hacienda,  occupied  by 
Senor  Miguel  Blanco,  one  of  the  most  influential  citi- 
zens of  Coahuila.   He  received  us  with  much  courtesy, 


172  APPENDIX. 

and  extended  towards  the  officers  the  hospitalities  of 
his  mansion.  Going  through  this  pass,  we  at  once 
entered  into  the  great  valley  of  Monclova,  watered  by 
a  river  of  the  same  name  and  the  Rio  Nadadores,  — 
each  an  affluent  to  the  Solado.  Our  course  then  lay 
in  a  southerly  direction  across  this  valley,  till  we 
arrived  at  the  city  of  Monclova  itself,  before  which 
General  Wool  again  encamped  his  column.  Where 
no  resistance  had  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  people, 
no  surrender  of  any  city  through  which  he  had  passed 
had  been  demanded  by  the  General ;  but,  as  the  author- 
ities of  this  place  had  made  a  protest  against  his  ad- 
vance upon  it,  he  determined  at  once  to  take  formal 
possession  of  the  town,  and  accordingly,  on  the  3d  of 
November,  entered  it  with  all  his  forces,  and  had  the 
national  flag  displayed  from  the  top  of  the  Governor's 
palace,  situated  on  the  principal  plaza.  Here  it 
was  determined  at  once  to  establish  a  depot,  and  to 
collect  all  the  corn  and  flour  from  the  surrounding 
country  it  would  be  possible  to  obtain.  This  would 
obviate  the  necessity  of  depending  on  their  being  re- 
ceived by  the  long  and,  in  a  wet  season,  totally  im- 
practicable route  from  Port  La  Vaca,  or  even  from 
Camargo  ;  to  which  point  a  direct  communication  was 
immediately  opened,  it  being,  for  land  carriages,  408 
miles  nearer  to  Monclova  than  the  former  place. 
The  General  intended  to  relinquish  all  hope  of  re- 
ceiving supplies  from  the  east  so  long  as  any  possi- 
bility existed  of  gathering  them  up  in  the  country ;  and 
every  exertion  was  accordingly  made  to  carry  such  a 
purpose   into  effect.      It  was  ascertained  that  large 


APPENDIX.  173 

quantities  of  wheat  and  corn  had  been  sent  from  Mon- 
clova,  and  the  neighboring  town  Cienagas,  to  supply 
the  Mexican  army  at  Monterey,  and,  more  recently,  at 
Saltillo  ;  and,  on  the  very  day  we  entered  the  city, 
10,000  pounds  of  flour,  which  was  going  in  that  direc- 
tion, were  seized  and  at  once  turned  into  our  depot. 

"  General  Taylor  having  sent  orders  for  the  Centre 
Division  not  to  proceed  beyond  Monclova  until  the  end 
of  the  armistice,  or  the  receipt  of  other  instructions,  it 
was  obliged  to  lie  there  for  the  period  of  twenty-seven 
days.  All  this  time  was  occupied  in  perfecting  the 
discipline  of  the  troops,  in  the  collection  of  stores,  as 
before  stated,  and  in  making  extensive  reconnoissances 
of  the  surrounding  country.  During  that  time  In- 
spector-General Churchill  came  up  with  the  rear  col- 
umn. By  his  arrival  our  train  was  also  enlarged  by 
100  wagons  more,  well  filled  with  supplies. 

"  On  the  24th  of  November,  —  the  armistice  having 
expired,  —  the  whole  division,  with  the  exception  of  a 
command  of  about  250  men,  which  was  left  to  guard 
the  depot  at  Monclova,  took  up  its  line  of  march  for 
Parras,  180  miles  distant ;  the  general  course  being 
nearly  south-west.  If  you  will  lay  before  you  a  Span- 
ish or  Mexican  map,  you  will  be  able  to  trace  our 
route  through  the  following  places,  viz.  Castafia, 
Marques,  Bajan,  La  Joya,  Punta  de  Estanosa,  Punta 
de  Reata,  Jaral,  San  Antonio,  Teneja,  Cienaga 
Grande,  Galera,  and  Ojuelos,  on  to  Parras,  at  which 
place  we  arrived  on  the  5th  instant,  and  are  now 
encamped  before  the  town. 

"  Parras  is  said  to  contain  6000  inhabitants.     It  is 


174  APPENDIX. 

built  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  it  more  difficult  of 
capture  than  any  town  we  have  yet  seen  in  the  Ke- 
public.  The  streets  are  exceedingly  narrow  and 
crooked,  and  nearly  every  one  of  them  has  on  each 
side  a  thick  adobe  wall,  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  in 
height.  A  high  range  of  mountains  rises  up  immediate- 
ly in  the  rear  of  the  city,  easy  to  be  maintained  ;  while 
along  its  entire  front,  and  skirting  each  of  its  flanks, 
are  immense  vineyards,  surrounded,  also,  by  walls 
of  great  height  and  thickness.  Its  situation  is  at  the 
foot  of  the  celebrated  Bolson  de  Malpami,  and  is  about 
100  miles  from  Saltillo,  200  from  Durango,  300  from 
San  Luis  de  Potosi,  150  from  Monterey, and  450  from 
Chihuahua.  It  is  represented  as  being  near  the  centre 
of  the  best  grain-growing  region  in  Mexico  ;  the  busi- 
ness of  the  place,  however,  is  the  culture  of  the  grape, 
and  large  quantities  of  wine  and  brandy,  of  a  supe- 
rior quality,  are  annually  transported  on  the  backs 
of  mules  to  all  the  principal  towns  throughout  the 
country. 

"  This  city  being  the  key  to  Chihuahua,  General 
Wool  was  anxious  to  reach  it  much  earlier  than  he 
did,  and  would  have  done  so  by  nearly  a  month,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  armistice,  as  has  already  been 
shown.  Once  being  here,  he  would  be  at  liberty  to  go 
with  his  whole  force  to  that  place,  or  send  a  detach- 
ment to  take  possession  of  it,  while  the  rest  would  be 
free  to  cooperate  with  the  Army  of  Occupation,  or  to 
move  on  Durango  or  Zacatecas,  as  the  exigencies  of 
the  service  should  most  require.  As  it  was,  however, 
intelligence  was  received,  previous  to  his  arrival  here, 


APPENDIX.  175 

that  most  of  the  troops,  which  had  assembled  in  the 
upper  provinces,  had  fallen  back  upon  the  lower, 
thereby  rendering  the  necessity  of  the  whole  division 
marching  in  that  direction  out  of  the  question.  And 
now  the  proximity  of  Santa  Anna,  and  the  great 
efforts  he  is  making  to  concentrate  and  prepare  for  the 
field  the  most  formidable  army  Mexico  has  ever  ar- 
rayed against  us,  imperiously  demand  that  we  remain 
at  or  near  the  position  we  at  present  occupy,  that  we 
may  be  ready  at  any  moment  to  form  a  junction  with 
General  Taylor,  and  perform  our  part  in  the  most 
fearful  game  that  has  been  played  for  many  a  year, 
and  one  in  which  we  have  Santa  Anna  for  an  antago- 
nist ;  —  but  who  yet  has  been  able  to  compute  the 
stakes  ? 

"  I  have  already  made  this  letter  too  long ;  but,  be- 
fore I  close  it,  permit  me  to  say,  that,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  this  column,  almost  every  article,  whether  of 
ammunition,  subsistence,  or  other  stores,  had  to  be 
transported  from  La  Vaca  here,  —  a  distance  of  800 
miles.  The  labor  required  to  procure  the  necessary 
wagons,  teams,  &c,  and  to  organize  them  into  trains, 
though  great  in  itself,  was  not  to  be  considered  in  com- 
parison with  that  of  guarding  them  through  a  hostile 
and,  in  a  measure,  unknown  country,  and  bringing 
them,  without  loss,  over  desolate  plains,  rapid  and  al- 
most impassable  rivers,  over  high  sierras,  and  through 
dangerous  defiles,  where  it  was  incumbent  upon  every 
man  not  only  to  exercise  the  utmost  vigilance,  but  lit- 
erally to  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel.  Wherever 
we  went,  the  necessities  of  our  position  urgently  de- 


176  APPENDIX. 

mancled  that  we  should  be  encumbered  with  all  these 
things  so  indispensable  to  our  existence,  to  the  success 
of  our  enterprise,  and  to  what,  in  any  situation,  would 
make  us  an  effective  force,  in  despite  of  the  naturally 
inhospitable  barrenness  of  the  country,  or  the  efforts 
of  an  active  enemy  in  laying  it  waste  before  us.  As 
yet  our  progress  has  not  been  retarded  by  the  firing 
of  a  single  shot ;  but  our  officers  and  men  have  la- 
bored with  a  zeal  and  fidelity,  which  can  never  be  ap- 
preciated but  by  those  who  have  witnessed  their  efforts, 
and  observed  from  day  to  day  how  many  have  been 
the  obstacles  they  have  overcome  to  reach  this  ad- 
vanced position.  The  continued  evidences  of  their 
energy  and  perseverance  have  been  sufficient,  aside 
from  the  other  and  more  weighty  considerations  of 
patriotism  and  desire  for  distinction,  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  the  flag  of  our  far-off  and  beloved  country 
is  safe  when  intrusted  to  such  hands.  C." 

Four  days  after  the  above  letter  was  written,  the 
Centre  Division  left   Parras  for  Agua  Nueva. 
See  Appendix,  B. 


B. 

(See  page  5.) 

After  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista  had  been  fought, 
several  officers  are  said  to  have  claimed  the  honor  of 
having  chosen  the  ground  upon  which  it  took  place. 
As  the  selection  of  the  field  had  been  made  by  Gen- 


APPENDIX.  177 

eral  Wool  himself,  he  desired  to  correct  the  mistake 
which  those  officers  were  laboring  under,  evidently 
from  ignorance  of  that  fact.  Accordingly  he  wrote 
the  following  note  to  Captain  Carleton,  of  the  1st 
Dragoons,  who,  as  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  was  with 
him  at  the  time  the  choice  was  made. 


"Buena  Vista,  July  27,  1847. 

"  Sir  :  You  may  recollect,  that  the  next  evening  (that 
of  the  22d  December  last)  after  my  arrival  at  Agua 
Nueva  from  Parras,  I  left  my  camp  to  visit  Generals 
Butler  and  Worth,  who  were  both  reported  as  being 
confined  by  illness  at  Saltillo.  I  was  accompanied 
by  Captains  Lee,  Hughes,  Chapman,  my  aide,  and 
yourself,  acting  aide-de-camp.  Before  we  reached 
La  Encantada,  it  became  quite  dark ;  and,  whilst  pass- 
ing through  the  valley  toward  Saltillo,  some  of  the 
party,  on  several  occasions,  had  to  dismount  in  order 
to  keep  the  road.  It  was  too  dark,  owing  to  a  fog,  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  of  the  valley  *  that  night. 

"  The  next  morning,  I  returned  to  Agua  Nueva,  ac- 
companied only  by  yourself.  The  remainder  of  my 
staff  did  not  leave  Saltillo  until  toward  night.  When 
I  arrived  at  the  Pass,  or  Narrows,  where  Washing- 
ton's Battery  was  stationed  during  the  Battle  of  Buena 
Vista,  I  halted  to  examine  the  position.  Will  you  do 
me  the  favor  to  state  what  passed,  or  was  said,  on  that 

*  Viz.  the  Pass  of  Buena  Vista. 
12 


178  APPENDIX. 

occasion,  in  reference  to  the  Pass,  the  surrounding 
heights,  and  the  gullies  on  the  right  of  the  position  ? 
"  I  am,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

«  JOHN  E.  WOOL,  U.  S.  A. 
"  To  Captain  J.  H.  Carleton, 
"ls£  Dragoons,  Present." 

To  this  letter  Captain  Carleton  replied  as  follows  : 

"Buena  Vista,  Mexico,  July  27,  1847. 

"  General  :  I  have  been  honored  with  the  receipt 
of  your  note  of  this  date,  and,  in  reply,  would  state, 
that,  by  a  reference  to  my  '  Journal  of  the  Marches, 
fyc.y  of  General  Wool's  Column,''  I  find,  that,  on  the 
21st  of  December,  1846,  you  arrived  in  the  valley  of 
La  Encantada,  with  your  whole  force,  consisting  of 
cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry,  with  their  complete 
trains,  and  encamped  at  Agua  Nueva,  situated  at  its 
southern  termination.  That  point  is  twenty  miles  in 
advance  of  Saltillo,  which  city  was  then  occupied  by 
General  Worth,  to  whose  assistance  you  had  marched 
from  Parras,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
miles,  in  less  than  four  days.  At  that  time,  the  com- 
mand of  General  Worth  was  only  a  brigade,  and  he 
had  sent,  by  express,  a  request  to  you,  at  Parras,  to 
join  him  with  your  column,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  assist 
in  repelling  an  attack,  then  daily  expected  from  the 
enemy  in  force  under  General  Santa  Anna. 

"  About  the  same  time,  General  Butler  arrived  at 
Saltillo  from  Monterey.     On  the  evening  of  the  22d 


APPENDIX.  179 

of  December,  you  left  your  camp,  at  Agua  Nueva,  to 
visit  both  him  and  General  Worth,  —  it  being  re- 
ported that  they  were  confined  to  their  beds  in  con- 
sequence of  the  wounds  they  had  received.  You 
were  accompanied  by  Captains  Lee,  Hughes,  and 
Chapman,  U.  S.  A.,  by  your  aide,  Lieutenant  McDow- 
ell, and  by  myself,  then  on  duty  also  as  one  of  your 
aides.  It  was  quite  dark  when  you  left  Agua  Nu- 
eva ;  and,  when  you  arrived  at  that  part  of  the  Pass  of 
Buena  Vista  known  as  La  Angostura,  a  heavy  fog, 
accompanied  by  rain,  had  set  in,  rendering  it  so  much 
more  so,  that  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  the  road 
could  be  kept.  Indeed,  the  officers  who  were  with 
you  were  frequently  obliged  to  dismount  and  seek  for 
it  on  either  hand.  It  was  past  eleven  o'clock  at  night 
when  you  and  your  party  reached  Saltillo.  The  next 
day,  when  your  interview  with  Generals  Butler  and 
Worth  was  concluded,  you  started  on  your  return  to 
your  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  accompanied  only  by  my- 
self, all  the  other  officers  who  had  gone  to  Saltillo 
with  you  being  still  detained  there  by  official  busi- 
ness. When  you  had  proceeded  as  far  as  La  Angos- 
tura, one  mile  in  advance  of  the  hacienda  of  San  Juan 
de  la  Buena  Vista,  you  halted,  and,  after  having 
glanced  over  the  ground  on  each  side,  you  said  to 
rne  ;  '  Mr.  Carleton,  this  is  the  very  spot  of  all  others 
I  have  yet  seen  in  Mexico,  which  I  should  select  for 
battle,  were  I  obliged  with  a  small  army  to  fight  a 
large  one.' 

"  You  then  pointed  out  to  me  what  you  conceived 
to  be  the  great  military  advantages  it  possessed,  and 


180  APPENDIX. 

said  that  the  net-work  of  deeply-worn  channels  on 
the  right  would  completely  protect  that  flank ;  that  the 
heights,  on  your  left,  would  command  the  road,  while 
the  ravines  in  front  of  them,  and  which  extend  back 
to  the  mountain  on  that  side,  would  cripple  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy,  should  he  attempt  to  turn  that 
flank.  You  continued  conversing  with  me  on  this 
subject,  until,  as  you  may  recollect,  we  met  Lieuten- 
ant McCown,  4th  Artillery,  a  mile  or  more  farther  on. 
So  forcibly  was  I  impressed  with  your  choice,  and  all 
you  had  said  in  favor  of  it,  that,  immediately  after  my 
arrival  at  Agua  Nueva,  I  described  the  place  to  some 
of  the  officers  of  your  staff,  —  I  think  to  Inspector- 
General  Churchill,  and  his  assistant,  Captain  Drum, 
U.  S.  A.,  saying  at  the  time,  that  you  had  selected  it 
for  a  battle-ground,  and  repeating  all  you  had  stated 
in  relation  to  it. 

"  It  may  not  be  improper  likewise  to  add,  that,  on  the 
26th  of  December,  General  Butler  visited  you  at  Agua 
Nueva,  and  that,  on  the  27th,  before  he  returned  to 
Saltillo,  he  gave  you  an  order  to  move  with  your 
troops,  and  select,  in  the  neighborhood  of  La  Encan- 
tada,  or  farther  down  the  stream  towards  Saltillo,  a 
suitable  place,  and  there  encamp.  As  this  order  was 
entirely  discretionary  as  to  the  precise  locality  for 
your  proposed  camp,  you  chose  the  plain  between  La 
Angostura  and  the  hacienda,  before  alluded  to,  as  the 
best,  because  it  was  not  only  less  exposed  to  the  bleak 
winds,  which  continually  swept  through  the  Pass  at 
La  Encantada,  and  which,  at  that  season  of  the  year, 
would  cause  the  troops  much  suffering,  as  we  were  all 


APPENDIX.  181 

in  tents  and  fuel  was  very  scarce,  but  offered  the  addi- 
tional advantage  of  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  wa- 
ter; and,  besides,  was  just  in  the  rear  of  what  you 
had  selected  as  a  strong  point  of  defence. 

"  That  evening  (the  28th),  General  Butler  sent  you 
an  order  to  return  to  La  Encantada,  and  encamp 
there.  You  wrote  a  note  to  him,  requesting,  for  rea- 
sons which  you  assigned,  that  he  would  permit  you  to 
remain  where  you  were,  and  sent  it  by  Colonel  Har- 
din. Captain  Drum  and  myself  accompanied  Colonel 
Hardin,  and  were  present  at  the  interview  between 
General  Butler  and  him.  During  the  conversa- 
tion that  ensued  after  your  note  had  been  delivered, 
Colonel  Hardin,  among  other  reasons  which  he  gave 
why  he  hoped  your  request  might  be  complied  with, 
urged  the  fact  that  you  were  near  a  point  which  you  be- 
lieved you  could  maintain,  in  case  the  enemy  advanced 
upon  you  from  the  direction  of  San  Luis  de  Potosi. 
General  Butler  said  he  would  not  revoke  his  order,  and 
remarked,  that,  if  the  Mexican  army  came,  he  had 
already  chosen  a  ground  for  battle,  and  even  gone  so 
far  as  to  fix  the  points  to  be  occupied  by  the  several 
corps.  That  ground  was  the  broad  plain  immediately 
in  front  of  Saltillo  ;  and  I  think  he  also  said  he  had 
already  prepared  roads  for  the  artillery,  leading  from 
the  city  up  to  it.  I  have  mentioned  all  these  cir- 
cumstances, to  show  with  what  anxiety  and  exertion 
you  endeavored  to  be  permitted  to  occupy  a  point 
within  striking  distance  of  the  one  you  had  selected  as 
the  best  for  battle.  On  the  30th  of  December,  your 
whole  command  was  obliged  to  retrace  its  steps  to  La 


182  APPENDIX. 

Encantada,  which  it  did  with  evident  reluctance,  as 
all  the  officers  agreed  entirely  with  you  in  opinion  as 
to  the  disadvantages  arising  from  such  a  change  of 
position. 

"  Previous  to  the  time  when  you  first  went  to  Sal- 
tillo  (the  22d),  not  one  of  your  officers  had  ever  gone 
through  the  Pass  of  Buena  Vista.  All  those  who 
went  with  you,  on  that  occasion,  were  prevented, 
as  I  have  shown,  by  the  extreme  darkness,  even  from 
seeing  the  great  road  on  which  they  sought  to  travel, 
and  could  not,  therefore,  have  had  at  that  time  a 
favorable  opportunity  for  making  military  reconnois- 
sances.  You  returned  from  the  city,  and  had  pointed 
out  the  position  to  me,  as  I  have  stated,  before  they 
repassed  over  it.  The  choice  and  partialities  of  the 
officers  in  Saltillo,  it  is  fair  to  presume,  for  many  rea- 
sons, were  coincident  with  those  expressed  by  Gen- 
eral Butler.  When  General  Taylor  came  up  from 
Monterey,  he  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  your  views  were 
correct ;  and,  although  he  moved  the  whole  army  for- 
ward to  Agua  Nueva,  as  there  he  could  have  an  ex- 
tensive plain  for  the  drill  and  discipline  of  the  troops, 
with  wood  and  water  convenient,  and  besides,  by 
doing  so,  could  take  the  initiatory  step  in  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  pieces  of  strategy  of  modern  times, — 
still,  when,  by  the  advance  of  Santa  Anna,  the  mo- 
ment had  arrived  to  gain  the  grand  result  by  feign- 
ing a  precipitate  retreat,  that  retreat  was  but  a  rapid 
movement  back  to  the  identical  spot  which  you  had 
chosen,  and  to  which  the  Mexican  army  was  hurriedly 
drawn  on,  with  all  its  fatigue  and  disarray,  consequent 


APPENDIX.  183 

upon  a  forced  march  of  upwards  of  forty  miles ;  and 
here,  on  the  22d  and  23d  of  Februaiy,  1847,  was 
fought  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista.  The  result  of  that 
conflict  afforded  conclusive  evidence  of  the  correct- 
ness of  your  first  remark  ;  —  for  there  four  thousand 
six  hundred  and  ten  Americans  contended  success- 
fully against  upwards  of  twenty-two  thousand  Mexi- 
cans. 

"  This  letter,  General,  is  but  a  dry  detail  of  facts  ; 
but  I  hope  they  are  set  forth  with  sufficient  clearness 
to  prevent  their  being  misunderstood. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  JAMES  HENRY  CARLETON, 

"  Captain  XI.  S.  1st  Dragoons. 
"To  Brigadier- General  John  E.  Wool, 
"  Commanding,  fyc.  §c.  85c.,  Present." 

The  following  is  the  note  which  General  Wool 
wrote,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing 
letter : 

"  Head-Quarters,  Buena  Vista,  Mexico, 
August  1,  1847. 

"  My  dear  Sir  :  I  give  you  many  thanks  for  your 
interesting  letter,  of  the  27th  ultimo,  relating  to  the 
selection  of  the  field  of  battle,  to  meet  General  Santa 
Anna  and  his  forces,  called  by  him  La  Angostura, 
and  where,  he  said,  on  the  two  eventful  days  of  the 
22d  and  23d  of  February  last,  '  blood  flowed  in  tor- 
rents, and  the  field  of  battle  was  strewed  with  the 
bodies  of  the  dead.1 


184 


APPENDIX. 


"  The  great  credit  given,  throughout  the  United 
States,  to  officers  said  to  have  suggested  the  field  of 
battle  to  me,  induced  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
subject.  Your  letter,  which  is  strictly  in  accordance 
with  my  own  recollections,  settles  the  question.  I 
never  thought,  however,  that  any  great  credit  was  due 
on  account  of  the  selection,  for  it  appeared  to  me  too 
obvious  to  escape  observation  ;  still,  if  great  credit  is 
due  to  any  one,  it  belongs  to  myself,  for,  in  company 
with  you,  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  December 
last,  it  attracted  my  attention,  as  set  forth  in  your  let- 
ter, and  before  any  person  had  indicated  to  me  the 
position. 

"  1  am  very  truly  yours, 

JOHN  E.  WOOL,  U.  S.  A. 

"To  Captain  James  H.  Carletox, 
"  1st  Dragoons,  Present." 

General  Wool  permitted  the  reporter  of  the  New 
Orleans  "  Picayune  "  to  make  a  copy  of  Captain  Carle- 
ton's  letter  for  that  paper.  After  it  was  published,  it 
became  the  occasion  of  several  communications,  pub- 
lished in  various  newspapers,  by  different  officers. 
But,  as  none  of  these  communications  controverted  the 
facts  it  specified,  they  remained  unanswered.  Cap- 
tain George  W.  Hughes,  of  the  Topographical  Engi- 
neers, was  one  of  the  officers  who  had  claimed  to 
have  suggested  to  General  Wool  the  battle-ground, 
and  to  have  pointed  out  its  advantages  while  in  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties.  As  soon  as  Captain 
Carleton's  letter  was  published,  he  addressed  a  long 


APPENDIX.  185 

communication  to  the  Editors  of  the  "  National  Intel- 
ligencer," in  which  he  says  ;  "  General  Wool  (on  the 
twenty -seventh  of  December)  instructed  me  to  select  a 
camp  [!],  in  reference  to  a  field  of  battle,  at  some 
point  between  Encantada  and  Saltillo,  —  not,  how- 
ever, to  approach  nearer  than  three  miles  of  the  latter 
place.  I  do,  however,  most  solemnly  aver,  that  the 
General  gave  me  no  other  instructions  than  those 
above  mentioned,  and  that  he  never  once  named  to 
me,  nor  even  hinted  at,  Buena  Vista,  —  nor  did  any 
other  person."  "  As  a  mere  encampment,  the  place 
chosen  by  me,  at  Buena  Vista,  was  unexceptionable. 
It  was  on  a  smooth,  beautiful  plain,  well  sheltered 
from  the  prevailing  winds,  with  cool,  delicious  water 
in  front  and  rear,  good  grazing  in  the  vicinity,  and 
plenty  of  fuel  hard  by.  Important  as  were  all  these 
considerations,  they  were  not  the  most  important.  Its 
highest  recommendation  was  its  remarkably  defen- 
sible character.  As  a  comfortable,  agreeable,  and 
convenient  camp,  it  was  not  necessary  to  look  far- 
ther." 

"  No  one  but  myself,  I  believe,  ever  committed  him- 
self, in  writing  at  least,  or  in  any  other  way  (unless, 
perhaps,  by  some  slight,  trivial  phrase),  by  suggesting 
Buena  Vista  as  a  battle-ground,  until  after  the  battle 
was  fought.  Its  advantage  then  became  apparent,  no 
doubt,  to  hundreds  !  I  regret  that  there  should  have 
been  any  controversy  about  this  matter ;  and  I  cer- 
tainly should  have  taken  no  part  in  it,  but  for  the  fact 
that  my  memoir  was  published  during  my  absence 
with   the  army ;  and  that  this  publication  has  been 


186  APPENDIX. 

made  necessary  by  an  attempt  to  deprive  me  of  the 
credit  of  some  little  service  which  my  friends  think  I 
have  rendered  to  the  country." 

For  the  information  of  the  reader,  it  is  necessary  to 
state,  that  Captain  Hughes  left  Saltillo  for  Brazos  San- 
tiago early  in  January,  nearly  six  weeks  before  the 
battle  was  fought.  He  has  not  been  upon  the  ground 
since.  All  he  states  in  reference  to  the  selection  of 
the  camp  at  Buena  Vista  is  probably  correct.  If 
there  is  any  thing  in  Captain  Carleton's  letter  calcula- 
ted to  "  deprive  "  Captain  Hughes  "  of  the  credit  of 
some  little  service,  which  his  friends  think  he  has  ren- 
dered to  the  countiy "  by  that  important  act,  it  is 
there  through  mistake,  and  is  hereby  recalled.  No  one 
could  wish  to  deprive  the  gallant  captain  of  his  hard- 
earned  honors.  It  is  granted  that  he  did  select  that 
encampment,  as  he  claims  to  have  done.  In  return, 
will  not  that  chivalrous  officer  extend  the  same  gener- 
osity toward  General  Wool  ?  If  Captain  Hughes  im- 
agines, for  a  moment,  that  General  Wool  desires  to 
receive  credit  for  having  chosen  "  the  encampment 
at  Buena  Vista,"  he  does  the  General  great  injustice. 
But  why  should  there  be  any  controversy  at  all  ? 
General  Wool  claims  to  have  selected  the  battle- 
ground at  La  Angostura,  —  Captain  Hughes  claims  to 
have  selected  the  site  of  an  encampment  at  Buena 
Vista.     The  two  places  are  one  mile  and  a  half 

APART. 


APPENDIX.  187 


C. 

(See  page  37.) 

Ejercito  Libertador  Republic  ano, 
General  en  Gefe,  Senoria  de  Campaiia. 

Esta  V.  S.  rodeado  de  veinte  mil  hombres,  y  huma- 
namente  [no]  puede  escapar  de  sufrir  una  derrota  y  de 
ser  anichilado  con  los  suyos ;  pero  mereciendome 
V.  S.  consideracion  y  particular  aprecio,  quiero  evi- 
tarle  una  catastrofe,  y  al  efecto  le  hago  esta  intimacion 
para  que  se  rinda  a  discrecion,  seguro  de  que  sea 
tratado  con  la  consideracion  propia  del  caracter  Me- 
jicano  ;  concediendole  al  efecto  una  hora  de  termino, 
que  correra  desde  el  momento  en  que  se  presente  un 
parlamentario  en  el  campo  de  V.  S. 

Con  este  motivo  protesto  a  V.  S.  mi  atenta  con- 
sideracion. 

Dios  y  Libertad  !  Campo  en  la  Encantada,  Febrero 
22,  1847. 

ANTO.  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

Senor  Gen.  Z.  Taylor, 
Com' cite  de  las  Fuerzas  de  los  E.  U. 


D. 

(See  page  82.) 


Boston,  June  26,  1848. 
My  dear  Colonel  :  I  have  recently  written  a  His- 
tory of  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista,  in  which  I  have  spok- 
en of  the  important  and  highly  distinguished  service 


188  APPENDIX. 

you  rendered  during  the  darkest  period  of  that  sangui- 
nary conflict,  in  rallying  the  troops  belonging  to  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Indiana  Volunteers,  which  had 
given  way  before  a  vastly  superior  force  of  the  ene- 
my, and  were  flying  the  field.  Will  you  do  me  the 
favor  to  state  how  many,  in  your  opinion,  you  rallied 
on  the  occasion  to  which  I  have  alluded  ? 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  faithfully,  yours, 

JAMES  HENRY  CARLETON, 

Captain  U.  S.  1st  Dragoons. 
To  Roger  Sherman  Dix, 
Brevet  Lieut.- Col.  U.  S.  A.,  Present. 

Boston,  June  27,  1848. 

My  dear  Captain  :  I  have  received  your  letter  of 
yesterday,  informing  me  that  you  have  written  a  His- 
tory of  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista,  and  inquiring  how 
many  of  the  2d  Indiana  Volunteers  were  rallied  after 
that  regiment  had  "  given  way  before  a  vastly  superior 
force  of  the  enemy,  and  were  flying  the  field." 

I  am  glad  to  learn,  that  one  who  had  the  best  possi- 
ble opportunity  of  observing  the  battle,  and  who  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  some  of  its  most  brilliant  acts, 
has  undertaken  to  write  its  history. 

In  reply  to  your  inquiry,  I  would  state,  that  nearly 
200  of  the  Indiana  Regiment,  about  tivo  thirds  of  those 
who  had  broken  and  fallen  back,  were  rallied,  and  re- 
turned to  the  field. 

You  have,  without  doubt,  (as  I  am  sure  it  is  your 
intention  to  do  to  all)  done  full  justice  to  our  gallant 


APPENDIX.  189 

friend,  Brevet  Major  T.  B.  Linnard,  for  the  valuable 
assistance  he  rendered  on  the  occasion  referred  to. 

Thanking  you  for  the  very  complimentary  expres- 
sions contained  in  your  letter, 

I  remain,  my  dear  Captain, 

Most  faithfully  yours, 

H.  S.  DIX, 
Brevet  Lieut.- Col.  TJ.  S.  A. 
Captain  J.  H.  Carletom", 
1st  U.  S.  Dragoons,  Present. 


190 


APPENDIX. 

E. 

(See  page  128.) 


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HEAD-Q.UARTERS   ArMY    OF    OCCUPATION, 

Agua  Nueva,  Mexico,  March  6,  1847. 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major- General   U.  S.  Army  commanding. 
W.  W.  S.  Bliss,  A.  A.  G. 


APPENDIX. 


191 


REPORT    OF  THE    KILLED,   WOUNDED,   AND  MISS- 
ING, IN   THE  BATTLE   OF   BUENA  VISTA, 

February.  22d  and  23c?,   1847,  by  Detachments,  Regiments,  85c, 
as  shown  mostly  by  the  Muster  Rolls  of  February  2&,  1847.* 
Buena  Vista,  Mexico.  S.   CHURCHILL, 

April,  1847.  Inspector-General. 


REGULARS. 

GENERAL    STAFF. 

Adjutant-General's  Department. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

si 

I 

Sou 

0 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Capt.  Geo.  Lincoln, 

A.  A.  G. 

1 

1 

1 

Corps  of  Engineers. 

1st  Lt., 

1 

... 

1 

2 

THIRD    REGIMENT    OF    ARTILLERY. 
Capt.  Sherman's  Company  E. 

2d.  Lt.  . 
Privates, 

1 
14 

15 

17 

Total,  . . 

15 

*  This  report  shows  the  number  to  be  eighty  less  than  was 
exhibited  in  that  of  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  made  a  day  or 
two  after  the  battle,  the  excess  in  which  may  be  accounted  for 
by  the  confusion  in  camp  at  the  time,  and  its  embracing  the  slightly 
wounded,  many  of  whom,  and  of  those  reported  "  missing,"  were 
"  present  for  duty  "  at  the  subsequent  muster.  S,  C. 


192 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Bragg's  Company  C. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

fci 
B 

§5 

~5 
o 
h 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No 

Christ.  F.  "Waibinger, 

Private, 

1 

Corp.,  . . 
Privates, 

1 
3 

5 

22 

Total,  .. 

4 

FOURTH  REGIMENT   OF   ARTILLERY. 
Captain  "Washington's  Company  3. 

Calvin  Doughty,.... 
Thomas  Weekly, .... 

Private, 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

1st.  Lt., 
2d.  Lt.,. 
Sergts.,. 
Privates, 

1 

1 

2 

18 

28 

50 

Total,.. 

6 

Total,  . . 

22 

•• 

FIRST    REGIMENT    OF    DRAGOONS. 

Company  M.. 

Privates, 

3 

•• 

3     j  53 

Company  X!. 

Total  in  1st  Dragoons, 



Capt.,  ... 
2d  Lieut., 
Farrier,  . 
Privates, 

1 
1 
1 
3 

" 

6 

59 

Total,... 

6 
9 

•• 

•• 

Captain  L.  B.  Webster's  Company  of  1st  Artillery,  garrisoned  the  re- 
doubt at  Saltillo. 

APPENDIX. 


193 


SECOND   REGIMENT  OF  DRAGOONS. 
Company  22. 


Killed. 


Rank.      No 


Wounded. 


Rank.      No 


B.Lt.Col. 
Private, 


61 


VOLU  NTEERS. 

GENERALS   AND   GENERAL   STAFF. 

| 

Bgr.  Gen.    1 

•• 

1      1  62 

ARKANSAS    MOUNTED    REGIMENT. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Archibald  Yell,  .... 

Col.... 

1 

■• 

1 

63 

Captain  Taylor's  Company  &.. 

George  Norwood,. 
Andrew  Teague,  . 


Private, 


Total,..     2       6 


Sergt.,  .. 
Corp.,  . . 
Privates, 


8        71 


Captain  Danley's  Company 


Thomas  G.  Rowland, 


Private, 

1 

2 

Privates, 

2 

Total,  . . 

2 

2 

4 

75 


Captain  Patricel's  Company  C. 


David   Hogan, 

"Williams, 


Private, 


Total, 


Privates. 


13 


194 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Porter's  Company  D« 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

1 

■s-S-s 

S3  c  S 

&   B 

a 

(3 

o 

& 
89 

Names. 

Rank 

No. 

Kank. 

No. 

Andrew  R.  Porter, . . 
Richard  M.  Saunders, 
Green  H.  Higgins,.. 
Harrison  Penter, .... 
William  Pbipps, .... 

Captain, 
Corp.,  . . 
Private, 

Total,.. 

1 
1 
1 

2 
3 

5 

Sergt.,.. 
Privates, 

1 
3 

4 

9 

Captain  Dillard's  Company  r. 

Darian  Steward,  .... 
Harman  Winn, 

Corp.,  .. 

Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 

1 

2 

Sergt.,.. 
Privates, 

1 
2 

3 

5 

94 

Captain  Hunter's  Company  G-. 

Private, . 

1 

1* 

2 

96 

Captain  W.  H.  Preston's  Company  H. 

Wilson  W.Tomberlin, 

Corp.,  .. 

Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 

2 

Private,. 

1 

1 

3         99 

Captain  Inglish's  Company  I. 

Private, 
Total,.. 

1 
2 

2 

18 

1st  Lt... 

1 

— 

5 

104 

William  Robinson, . . 

Total     in    Arkansas 
Mounted  Reg. 

Privates, 

2 

3 

23 

1 

42 

*  Private. 
f     Companies  E,  (Pike's,)  and  K,  (Preston's,)  stationed  in  Saltillo,  six 
miles  from  the  field  of  battle,  on  the  22d,  and  with  May's  squadron  on 
j  the  field,  on  the  23d. 

APPENDIX. 


195 


KENTUCKY   MOUNTED   REGIMENT. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

p 

5 

-  to 

o 
Eh 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No 

Edward  M.  Vaughn,. 

1st  Lt. 
and  Adj. 

1 

•• 

1 

105 

Captain  "Wilam's  Company  C. 

J.  F.  Ellingwood, .... 

Private, 
Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 

3 

Privates, 

2 
2 

5 

110 

Captain  Price's  Company  A. 

Bronson  "Warren, .... 

Private, 
Total,  . . 

1 
2 

2 

2dLt., ..    1 
Privates,    3 

4 

6 

116 

Captain  Clay's  Company  I. 

2d  Lt.,.. 
Corp.,... 

Total,  .. 

1 
1 

2 

2 

118 

Captain  Beard's  Company  K. 

William  W.  Bayles,.. 

Alex.  G.  Morgan, .... 
Nathaniel  Ramsey,.. 
William  Th waits,  . . . 

Corp.,  .. 

Private, 

<< 
Total,  . . 

1 
1 

2 
3 
4 
5 

6 

Private, . 

1 
1 

7 

125 

196 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Heady's  Company  E. 


Killed. 


C.  B.  Thompson,. 


Private, 


Total,..     1 


Wounded. 


Rank.     No, 


2d  Lt., 
Sergt., 


M  o- 


Captain  Pennington's  Company  G-. 


Henry  Danforth, . . 

John  Ross, 

J.  M.  Rowlin,  . . . 
Jesse  Martin,. .... 

G.  F.  Lilley, 

G.  Routson, , 


Private, 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

6 

Priv'ts, 

4 

Total,.. 

6 

.... 

4 

•• 

10 

Captain  Shawhan's  Company  D. 


John  A.  Jones, 

Wm.  A.  M'Clintock, 
James  Pomeroy, .... 
David  R.  Rodgers,.. 


Private, 


Total, 


1 

2 
3 
4 

4 

Capt.,.. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
6 

7 

11 

Captain  Lillaed's  Company  B. 


David  J.  Lillard,. 
A.  J.  Martin,  .... 
Lewis  Sanders,.. 
Patrick  Quigley,. 
Michael  Nouse,.. 


Total  in  Kentucky 
Mounted  Reg't,.. 


Sergt.,  . 
Private, 


Total, 


•2-2 


APPENDIX, 


197 


SECOND    KENTUCKY    FOOT    REGIMENT. 

Field  and  Staff. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Rank.     No 


=3  g  g 

S  Its 


Wm.  R.  M'Kee, 
Henry  Clay,  Jr., 


Colonel, 
Lt.  Col., 


Total,. 


156 


Captain  Moss's  Company  JL» 


A.  M.  Chandoin,. 
John  W.  Smith,  . 


Private, 


Total, 


2d  Lt.,. 
Priv'ts, 


161 


Captain  Chambers's  Company  "B. 


Henry  Wolff,... 
Wm.  Blackwell, 
L.  B.  Bartlett,  .. 
Mager  Updyke,. 


Sergt.,  . 
Private, 

(C 

1 
1 

2 
3 

Priv'ts, 

3 

Total,    . 

4 

.... 

3 

7 

168 


Captain  Thompson's  Company  G. 


Sidney  W.  Williams, 
Robert  M.  Baker, . . . 

Micajah  Booth, 

William  Banks, 

John  Moffit, 


Corp.,  .. 

1 

Private, 

1 

2d  Lt.,. 

i 

" 

2 

Sergt.,  . 

1 

" 

3 

Corp.,. . 

1 

<( 

4 

Priv'ts, 

3 

Total, . . 

5 

.... 

6 

•• 

11 

179 


198 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Fry's  Company  D. 


Killed. 


Names. 


Rank.       No 


"Wounded. 


Rank.     No 


Peter  Trough, 

"William  Hammond,. 

Harvey  Jones, 

Joseph.  Walder, 


Corp., . , 
Private, 


Total, 


Private, 


Captain  Cutter's  Company  21. 


Quiney  J.  Carlin,... 
Mart.  L.  Roderburgh, 

Hiram  Frazier, 

John  Hearkins, 

Robert  M'Curdy, 

Hercules  Snow, 


Sergt.,  . 

1 

Musi'n, 

1 

Private, 

1 

2 

" 

3 

Corp.,   . 

1 

" 

4 

Priv'ts, 

6 

Total, 

6 

.... 

7 

'•• 

13 

Captain  Willis's  Company  P. 


Wm.  S.  Willis,  . 
Harvey  Trotter, 


Capt.,.. 
Private, 

Total, 

1 
1 

2 

.. 

2 

Captain  Dougherty's  Company  G-. 


James  R.  Ballard, 
John  A.  Gregory,  . 

Willis  West, 

Jesse  J.  Walker,.. 


Private, 

1 

2 
3 

4 

2d  Lt., 

Priv'ts, 

1 
3 

Total, . . 

4 

.... 

4 

•• 

8 

APPENDIX, 


199 


Captain  Joyner's  Company  H. 

.  Killed. 

Wounded. 

•sf-S  J 
s2|| 

"13 
o 
6h 

Names. 

Rank. 

No 

Rank. 

No 

John  M.  Dunlop,  ... 
William  Gilbert,.... 

Sergt.,  . 
Private, 

Total, . . 

1 
2 
1 
2 
3 

5 

Sergt.,  . 
Corp.,. . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
2 
5 

8 

13 

222 

Captain  Turpin's  Company  I. 

Henry  Edwards, .... 
Abraham  Goodparter, 

Corp.,.. 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 

1 

2 

3 

Priv'ts, 

2 
2 

5 

227 

Captain  M.  Brayer's  Company  K. 

James  Johnson,  .... 

Wm,  P.  Reynolds,  . . 
Arthur  Thacker, .... 
John  W.  Watson,  . . 

Total  in  Kentucky 
Foot  Regiment,  .... 

Private, 

€t 

(( 

Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 

7 

Sergt.,. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
6 

7 

14 

241 

.... 

44 

.... 

43 

•• 

87 

FIRST    ILLINOIS    REGIMENT. 

Field  and  Stapf. 

Colonel, 
Mus'n.,. 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 

2 



.. 

.. 

2 

243 

200 


APPENDIX 


Captain  Smith's  Company  B. 


Killed. 


Names. 


F.  S.  Carter,. 


Private, 


Total, 


"Wounded. 


Rank." 


Captain, 
Corp.,.. 
Priv'ts, 


Captain  Fry's  Company  C. 


Merritt  Hudson,....    Mus'n.,       1 


Captain  Zabriskie's  Company  3D. 


Jacob  W.  Zabriskie,. 
Augustus  Canauglit, 
John  Emerson, 


Captain, 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 

2 

3 

Sergt., 
Priv'ts, 

1 

2 

3 

— 

6 

Captain  Richardson's  Company  X!. 


Silas  Bedell, 

Henry  H.  Clark,.... 

Wm,  Goodwin, 

James  J.  Kinman,  . . 
Randolph  R.  Martin, 
G.  S.  Richardson;... 
Sam'l  W.  Thompson, 
Charles  "Walker 


Private, 


Total, . , 


Priv'ts, 


Companies  A,  (Morgan's,)  and  I,  (Prentiss's,)  stationed  in  Saltillo. 


APPENDIX, 


201 


Captain  Montgomery's  Company  H. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

s 

o 

Names. 

Rank. 

No 

Rank. 

No 

Bryan  B,.  Houghton, 

Matthew  Dawdy, .... 
Thomas  J.Gilbert,.. 
Elisha  C.  Mays, 

1st  Lt.,. 
Mus'n.,. 
Private, 

"i 
Total,  . . 

1 
1 
1 

2 
3 
4 

6 

2d  Lt.,  . 

Priv'ts, 

1 
3 

4 

10 

276 

Captain  Mower's  Company  2C. 

John  B.  Backman,.. 
Inglehot  Claibsottle, 

Aaron  Kiersted,  .... 
Wm.  Vinkleharker, . 

Total  in  First  Illinois 

Private, 
Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 

8 

Priv'ts, 

2 

2 

10 

286 

29 

16 

•• 

45 

SECOND    ILLINOIS    REGIMENT. 
Field  and  Staff. 

1st  Lt.  > 
&  Adj.  ( 
Sergt.  ) 
Maj.     3 
Qr.  M.  ) 
Sergt.  3 

Total, 

1 
1 
1 

3 

3 

289 

202 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Coffey's  Company  A. 


Killed. 


Names. 


Allen  B.  Rountree,. . 
William  R.  Kinyon, . 
Wm.  L.  Smith, 


2d   Lt.,. 
Private, 


Total, 


Wounded. 


Capt.,  . 
Sergt.,  . 
Priv'ts, 


12 


=  3  = 
l3  §"2 


15 


304 


Captain  Woodward's  Company  3. 


Wm.  C.  Woodward,. 
John  Bartleson,  .... 
Aaron  Atherton,.... 

William  Price, 

Wm.  J.  Ferguson,  . . 
Joseph  W.  Emerson, 
George  W.  Crippen,. 

Abner  Durock, 

John  W.  Kiger,  .... 
Richard  E.  Scott,... 


Capt., .. 

1 

1st   Lt.. 

1 

2d  Lt. . . 

1 

2 

Sergt.,  . 

1 

Private, 

1 
2 

tt 

3 

4 

" 

5 

Private, 

1 

Total, . . 

10 

.... 

1 

•• 

11 

315 


Captain  Baker's  Company  C. 


Edward  F.  Fletcher, 
Rodney  Ferguson,  . . 

L.  Robbins, 

William  Hibbs, 

James  S.  Patten,  . . . 
Amos  Woodling, . . . . 


1st  Lt.,. 

1 

2dLt.,.. 

1 
2 

Corp.,. . 

1 

Capt.,  . 

1 

Private, 

1 

2d  Lt.,. 

1 

" 

2 

Priv.,    . 

11 

Total,.. 

6 

.... 

13 

•• 

19 

334 


Companies  D,  (Wheeler's,)  and  F,  (Hacker's,)  stationed  at  Saltillo. 


APPENDIX. 


203 


Captain  Lott's  Company  E. 


Killed, 


"Wounded. 

a  c  S 

Eank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

s 

**1 

2d   Lt.,. 

1 

Private, 

1 

" 

2 

Priv'ts, 

4 

Total,.. 

3 

.... 

4 

•• 

7 

Timothy  Kelley, 

John  Gable, 

Thos.  D.  O'Connor,. 


Captain  Lemon's  Company  G-. 


Thomas  Jenkins,  . . . 
David  A.  Hill, 

¥m.  S,  Messinger,. . 


Private, 

1 
2 
3 

Priv'ts, 

2 

Total,  . . 

3 

.... 

2 

•• 

5 

Captain  Kaith's  Company  H. 


Alexander  Conze, . . . 
Christian  Crossman, 

George  Lartz,   

Emanuel  Schoolcraft, 
Franz  Weber, 


Private, 

1 
2 
3 

" 

4 

2d  Lt.,. 

1 

a 

5 

Priv'ts, 

10 

Total, . . 

5 

.... 

11 

2* 

18 

Captain  Miller's  Company  I. 


Emanuel  Bradley, 
Goforth  Clark, 
Henry  Cook,  . . 
John  M.  Davis, 
William  Hogan 
John  Lear,  .... 
John  M'Crury, 


ey,  -. 

,  .. . . 

Private, 

1 

2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 

Sergt.,. 
Priv'ts, 

1 

13 

Total,  . . 

7 

.... 

14 

•• 

21 

*  Privates. 


204 


APPENDIX. 


Captain  Stareuck's  Company  K. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

fci 

jag 

fflf-S 

"3 

Names. 

Rank. 

No 

Rank. 

No 

S 

1  |-a 

o 

James  C.  Steele,.... 

2d  Lt.,  . 

1 

Robert  Abernathy,.. 

Private, 

1 

John  F.  Bowen,  .... 

" 

2 

<< 

3 

" 

4 

John  B.  Kimzey, .... 

" 

5 

" 

6 

<< 

7 

Win.  A.  Ragland,  . . 

" 

8 

John  B.  Wilks, 

" 

9 

Priv'ts, 

6 

Total,.. 

10 

.... 

6 

16 

401 

Captain  Connor's  Texas  Company  of  Foot.* 

David  Campbell, .... 

IstLt.,. 

1 

John  A.  Leonard, . . . 

2d  Lt.,  . 

1 

Corp.,    . 

1 

" 

2 

Private, 

1 

Milton  P.  Donohoe, 

2 

Michael  Donovan,  . . 

3 

Edward  Fenney,.... 

4 

Edward  Forche,  .... 

h 

Henry  Gillerman,  . . 

6 

Emele  Godquin,  .... 

7 

8 

Frederick  Klinge,  . . 

9 

Caleb  Langeson,.... 

10 

11 

Private, 

1 

Total, . . 

15 



1 

.. 

16 

417 

Total  in  2d  Illinois 
Regiment  and  Texas 

= 

.... 

62 

.... 

67 

2 

131 

*  Serving  with  the  Second  Illinois  Regiment. 

APPENDIX. 


205 


SECOND    INDIANA    REGIMENT. 
Captain  Sanderson's  Company  A. 

Killed. 

"Wounded. 

s 

o 

E-i 

Names 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Charles  H.  Goff,  .... 
Warren  Robinson,  . . 
Apollos  J.  Stevens, . . 

Private, 
ct 

Totals. 

1 
2 
3 

4 

4 

Capt.,   . 
1st  Lt., 
2d  Lt.,. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
1 
1 
6 

9 

13 

430 

Captain  Kinder's  Company  B. 

John  T.  Hardin, .... 
Joseph   Laffety,  .... 
Arthur   Massey,  .... 
David  McDonald,  . . 

Capt'n, 
Private, 

Total,.. 

1 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

6 

Corp.,.. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
5 

6 

12 

442 

Captain  Osborn's  Company  C< 

Capt.,.. 
2d  Lt.,. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
1 
8 

10 

10 

452 

Captain  Dennis's  Company  X). 

Thomas  C.  Parr,.... 

"Wm.  Richardson,  . . 
James  H.  Slayden,.. 

2d  Lt.,  . 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 
2 
3 

4 

Sergt., . 
Corp.,  . 
Musi'n, 
Priv'ts, 

1 
1 
1 
5 

8 

12 

464 

206 


APPENDIX, 


. 

Captain  Davis's  Company  F. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

e 

1     Killed, 
£                               wounded, 
1  and  miss'g. 

o 
E-i 

475 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Harvey  Matthews, .  > 
Harrison  Wilson,  . . 
Ulysses  W.  Irwin,  . . 

Private, 
Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 

3 

Sergt.,. 
Corp.,  . 
Musi'n, 
Priv'ts, 

2 
3 
1 
2 

8 

Captain  Kimball's  Company  G. 

2dLt.,. 
Sergt., . 
Corp.,  . 
Priv'ts, 

Total,  . 

1 
2 

1 
3 

7 

7 

482 

Captain  Briggs's  Company  H. 

Meeshack  Draper,  . . 
Richard  Jenkins,... 

Private, 
a 

Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 

3 

Sergt.,. 
Corp.,  . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
1 

7 

9 

12 

494 

Captain  McRae's  Company  I. 

Wm.  W.  Campbell,  . 
Reuben  Harritt,  .... 

Corp.,,. 

Private, 
et 

Total, . . 

1 

1 

.2 

3 

Musi'n, 
Private, 

1 

1 

2 

1* 

6 

500 

Private. 


APPENDIX. 


207 


Captain  Rousseau's  Company  E. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

si 

B 

2 

'S  T3  •" 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

McHenry  Dosier,  . . 
John  G.  B.  Dillon,.. 

Sergt.,  . 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 

1 
2 

3 

Priv'ts, 

5 
5 

8 

508 

Captain  "Walker's  Company  K. 

Alfred  Williams, .... 
Obadiah  Lansbury, . . 
J.  C.  Higginbotham, 
Giles  Chapman,  .... 

Edmund  Wyatt,  .... 
Thomas  Smith,  .... 

Total  in  Second  In- 
diana Regiment, .... 

Cap 
Priv 

Tot 

t.,.. 
ate, 

d,.. 

1 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 

8 

34 

2d  Lt., . 

Priv'ts, 

1 

2 

3 

67 

11 

519 

.... 

1 

102 

THIRD    INDIANA    REGIMENT. 

Captain  Sluss's  Company  ik. 

Wm.  B.  Holland,  . . 
James  H.  Buskirk, . . 

Private, 
a 

Total,  . . 

1 
2 
3 

3 

Corp.,  . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
5 

6 

9 

528 

Captain  Allen's  Company  C. 

John  Armstrong,  . . 

Private, 

1 

Priv'ts, 

b 

••  j      6 

534 

208 


APPENDIX, 


Captain  Carter's  Company  D. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

el 

= 

i 

O 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Wilson  Houston,  . . . 

Private, 
Total,.. 

1 

1 

Corp.,. . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
3 

4 

5 

539 

Captain  Taggart's  Company  E. 

Capt.,  . . 
Total,  . . 

1 
1 

Corp.,  . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
3 

4 

"" 

5 

544 

Captain  Boardman's  Company  F. 

AVm.  C.  Good, 

Private, 
Total,  . . 

1 

2 

2 

Corp.,.. 
Priv'ts, 

1 

7 

8 

10 

554 

Captain  Sullivan's  Company  G-. 

John  A.  Graham,  . . . 

Private, 

1 

Priv'ts, 

5 

•• 

6 

560 

Captain  Conover's  Company  I-Z. 

Capt.,.. 
Priv'ts, 

Total,  . 

1 
2 

3 

3 

563 

Captain  Gibson's  Company  I. 

i 
Private,    1 

-i  ' 

564 

APPENDIX. 


209 


Captain  Dunn's  Company  K. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

- 

-  SB 

o 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Total  in  Third  Indi- 
ana Regiment, .... 

9 

Corp.,. . 

Priv'ts, 

Total,  . 

1 
-1 

4 

568 

40 

.. 

49 

MISSISSIPPI    REGIMENT. 
Field  and  Staff. 

Colon'l, 

1 

1 

569 

Captain  Sharp's  Company  Ik* 

William  Ingram, .... 

Sergt.,  . 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 

2 

Capt.,,. 
1st  Lt., 

Sergt,  . 
Priv'ts, 

1 

1 
1 
5 

8 

10 

579 

Captain  Cooper's  Company  B. 

Thomas  H.  Titley, . . 

L.  Turberville, 

W.  H.  Wilkinson,  . . 

Private, 
Total, . . 

1 

2 
3 

4 

4 

1st  Lt., 
Priv'ts, 

1 
5 

6 

1* 

11 

590 

*  Private. 

14 


210 


APPENDIX. 


Lieutenant  Cook's  Company  C. 


Killed. 


William  Couch, 
D.  H.  Eggleston, 
James  Johnson, 
John  Preston,  . . 


Private, 


Total, 


"Wounded. 


Sergt., . 
Corp.,. . 
Priv'ts, 


No. 


—  =  £ 
5  §<a 


12 


G02 


Lieutenant  Fletcher's  Company  £3. 


W.  W.  Phillips,  .. 
J.  H.  Langford, ... 
F.  M.  Robinsion,.. 
Joseph  C.  Reville, 
Robert  A.  Joyce, . . 
William  Sellers,  . . 


Sergt.,  . 

1 

2 

Corp.,. . 

1 

9, 

Private, 

1 

2 

Priv'ts, 

6 

Total,  . . 

6 

6 

•• 

12 

Captain  Dellay's  Company  P. 


B.  Higany,  

James  H.  Blakely, . 

D.  L.  Butler, 

P.  Durivant, 

Stephen   Jones,  ... 
Enos  Garrett, 


Sergt.,.. 

1 

Corp., .. 

1 
2 

Private, 

1 

" 

2 

Lieut.,. 

1 

" 

3 

Priv'ts, 

5 

Total,  . . 

6 

.... 

6 

12 

626 


APPENDIX, 


211 


Captain  Downing's  Company  G-. 

Killed. 

"Wounded. 

bj) 
•S3 

iM  1 

~  3  = 

"c5 
o 
Eh 

Names. 

Rank. 

No. 

Rank. 

No. 

Francis  McNulty,  . . 
J.  M.  Alexander, .... 
James  H.   Graves,.. 
J.  S.  Bond, 

W.  M.  Seay, 

Richard  E.  Parr, .... 

2dLt.,.. 
Corp.,  . . 
Private, 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

8 

Corp.,.. 
Priv'ts, 

3 
6 

9 

17 

643 

Lieutenant  Moore's  Company  H. 

"W.  D.  Harrison,  .... 
Patrick  Rariden, .... 

1st  Lt.,. 
Private, 

it 

Total,  . . 

1 
1 
2 
3 

4 

Sergt.,. 
Corp  , . . 
Priv'ts, 

1 
1 

6 

8 

1* 

13 

656 

Captain  Taylor's  Company  I. 

J.    S.  Branch, 

A.   Collingsworth,  . . 

Total  in  Mississippi 

Sergt.,  . 
Private, 

Total,  .. 

1 
1 
2 
3 

4 
5 

6 

40 

Sergt.,. 
Priv'ts, 

1 
3 

4 

10 

666 

56 

98 

*  Corporal. 

212  APPENDIX. 

RECAPITULATION. 


' 


REGULARS. 

T3 

T3 
T3 

a 

1 

■=2   . 

o 

o  c 

Corps. 

~ 

3 

w 

o 

aT~ 

W 

O 

a 

< 

VI  | 

!= 

General  Staff,   A.  A.   G.  2 

1 

1 

*    " 

•  • 

Corps  Engineers, 

.. 

1 

1 

3d  Artillery,  2  Companies, 

1 

19 

20 

150 

7-5 

4th  Artillery,  1  Company, 

6 

22 

28 

117 

4-18 

1st  Dragoons,  2  Companies 

,    . . 

9 

9 

133 

14-78 

2d  Dragoons,  2  Companies 

2 

2 

76 

38 

8 

53 

•• 

61 

476 

VOLUNTEERS. 

Brigadier-General,  (Lane,) 

1 

1 

Arkansas  Mounted  Regi-  ( 
ment,  (Col.  Yell's,)....  ] 

18 

23 

i 

42 

479 

11-4 

1st    Kentucky    Mounted} 

Regiment,    (Col.    Mar-  £ 

28 

22 

.. 

50 

330 

6-6 

2d  Kentucky  Foot  Regi-  , 
ment,  (Col.  McKee's,)    ' 

44 

43 

.. 

87 

571 

6-56 

1st  Illinois    Foot    Regi-  < 
ment,  (Col.  Hardin's,)    ' 

29 

1G 

•  • 

45 

580 

12-89 

2d   Illinois    Foot    Regi-   < 
ment,  (Col.  Bissell's,) 

47 

66 

2 

115 

573 

4-98 

Texas    Company,    Foot,    < 
(Capt.  Conner's,)    .... 

15 

1 

16 

61 

3-81 

2d    Indiana    Foot    Regi- 
ment, (Col.  Bowles's,) 

-    34 

67 

1 

102 

627 

6-13 

3d    Indiana    Foot    Regi- " 
ment,  (Col.  Lane's,)  .. 

9 

40 

•• 

49 

626 

12-77 

1st  Mississippi  Foot  Regi- 
ment, (Col.  Dayis's,)  . . 

Total  of  Regulars  and  Yol 

'■    40 

56 

2 

98 

368 

3-75 

264 

335 

6    605 

4,215 

388 

6    fififi 

4,691 

S.  CHURCHILL,  Ins.  Gen. 


APPENDIX.  213 


F. 

(See  page  131.) 

Major  Mansfield,  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  wrote 
from  Agua  Nueva,  March  1st,  a  letter,  from  which  the 
following  extracts  are  made  : 

"  Nothing  could  exceed  the  gallant  bearing  of  our 
horse  and  dragoons,  nor  the  bravery  and  good  conduct 
of  the  volunteers,  as  a  body.  Not  a  regular  infantry 
soldier  was  in  this  fight. 

"  If  I  had  had  but  one  single  full  regiment  of  regu- 
lars in  reserve,  we  could  have  charged  their  battery 
on  our  extreme  left,  and  taken  4000  or  5000  pris- 
oners. As  it  was,  we  could  only  hold  our  own 
against  such  odds. 

"  It  was  a  beautiful  battle,  —  not  a  mistake  made 
the  whole  day  ;  but  every  man  perfectly  exhausted  at 
night.  Our  loss  about  264  killed,  and  450  wounded  ; 
the  enemy's  loss  about  2500  in  killed  and  wounded, 
and  4000  missing:." 


214 


APPENDIX 

c. 

(See 

page  142. ) 

Return  of  Mexican  Prisoners  captured  at  the  Battle 
of  Buena  Vista,  February  22d  and  23d,  1847,  and 
subsequently  brought  in  by  the  Troops  under  the 
Command  of  Major -General  Z.  Taylor. 


£ 

z 

c3 

Remarks. 

c 

p. 

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1 

z 

3 

l 

3 

CO 

1 

m 
4 

o 
O 

= 

o 
> 

CO 

> 

a 

o 
z 
O 

bo 

to 

< 

4 

4 

8/5 

1 

4 

1 

106 

Sent  from  Buena  Vista,  Feb. 

25,  in  charge  of  Captain 
Faulac,  to  Gen.  Santa  An- 

na, for  exchange. 

39 

39 

Fit  for   duty ;     confined    at 

Saltillo. 

1 

•• 

5 

9 

133 

1 

149 

Wounded,  and  in  hospital 
at  Saltillo. 

2 

1 

1 

9 

13 

4 

257 

1 

5 

1 

294 

S.  CHURCHILL, 

Inspector-  General. 
Inspector-General's  Department, 

Camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  March.  4,  1847. 


H. 

(See  page  150.) 

It  will  be  observed  that  General  Santa  Anna  claims 
to  have  taken  "  two  banners  "  from  us,  in  one  of  the 
following  letters,  and  "  three  stands  of  colors,"  in  the 
other. 


APPENDIX.  215 

"To    GEXERAL   DON    ClRIACO    "VASatTEZ. 

"  Agua  Xueva,  February  25,  1847. 

"  My  esteemed  Friend  :  The  haste  with  which  I 
sent  off  the  last  express  to  the  government  hindered 
me  from  writing  to  you  the  news  of  the  deeds  of  arms. 
We  have  fought  for  two  whole  days.  The  enemy 
awaited  us  at  a  point  called  the  Narrows.  The  battle 
of  the  23d  was  particularly  bloody,  on  both  sides  ;  but 
it  was  impossible  to  take  the  principal  position  of  the 
enemy,  which  is  another  Thermopylae,  although  we 
drove  him  from  five  positions,  and  took  two  banners 
and  three  guns.  The  blood  ran  in  torrents,  and  it  is 
calculated  that  both  armies  lost  3000  or  4000  men  in 
killed  and  wounded.  Our  bayonet  charges  resulted 
in  the  death  of  hundreds  ;  but  the  enemy  could  not  be 
completely  routed,  on  account  of  the  strong  position 
he  occupied.  We  gave  him  to  understand  that  the 
Mexican  soldier  can  fight  bravely,  breast  to  breast, 
and  without  being  deterred,  either  by  strength  of  posi- 
tion, or  by  brokenness  of  ground,  or  by  hunger  and 
thirst,  which  he  suffered  with  heroic  resignation.  The 
strength  of  the  enemy  was  9000  men  and  twenty-six 
pieces  of  artillery. 

"  We  have  to  lament  the  death  of  Colonel  Berra, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anonos,  and  the  commanders  of 
battalions  and  squadrons,  Luyanda,  Bios,  Pena,  be- 
sides other  officers.  General  Lombardino,  Colonel 
Brito,  Colonel  Rocha,  General  Angel  Guzman,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonels Gallozo,  Monterdeoca,  Andrade,  Jico- 
tercal,  Ouijano,  Basave,  Onate,  and  other  chiefs  and 
officers,  are  wounded. 


216  APPENDIX. 

"  I  lost  my  horse  by  a  gunshot  in  one  of  the  first 
charges.  We  are  destitute  of  necessaries  for  the 
wounded,  and  I  therefore  charge  you  to  send  on  im- 
mediately the  provisions  in  your  place,  so  that  they 
may  meet  the  army,  which  has  done  its  duty,  and 
saved  the  honor  of  the  national  arms. 

"  God  and  Liberty  ! 

»  SANTA  ANNA." 

*'  To  His  Excellency,  D.  Ramon  Adame. 

"  Agua  Nueva,  February  26,  1847. 

"  My  dear  Friend  :  The  hurry  in  which  I  wrote  my 
last  letter  prevented  me  from  sending  you  a  copy  of 
my  despatch  to  the  government,  and  the  general 
order  issued  to  the  troops  on  the  field  of  battle.  I 
now  send  it,  and  suppose  the  triumph  of  our  arms  has 
been  celebrated  in  your  town.  The  want  of  supplies, 
together  with  the  dysentery,  which  broke  out  in  the 
army,  compelled  me  to  listen  to  the  opinions  of  the 
generals  and  chiefs  of  the  army,  and  regulate  my 
operations  accordingly.  They  unanimously  deter- 
mined that  the  army  ought  to  fall  back  on  points 
where  supplies  might  be  had.  I  have,  therefore, 
determined  to  retire  by  way  of  Cedral,  Vanegas,  and 
Matahuala,  where  I  can  establish  a  hospital  for  the 
wounded,  who  amount  to  more  than  400,  and  also  for 
the  sick ;  after  which  I  will  return  and  seek  the  ene- 
my, provided  the  government  furnishes  the  necessary 
resources. 

"  I  have  informed  the  government  to  this  effect,  un- 
der the  present  date.     I  here  take  occasion  to  state, 


APPENDIX.  217 

as  all  the  world  should  know  it,  that  the  treason  of  a 
native  Mexican  prevented  me  from  gaining  a  com- 
plete victory  over  our  invaders.  A  soldier  from  the 
regiment  of  cuirassiers,  a  native  of  Saltillo,  deserted 
from  Encarnacion,  and  informed  General  Wool  of 
my  approach.  General  Wool  precipitately  struck  his 
camp,  abandoning  a  part  of  his  train,  and  some  pro- 
visions, and  occupied  the  impregnable  position  of  La 
Angostura,  which  it  was  impossible  to  reduce,  not- 
withstanding the  great  advantage  gained  by  our  troops, 
who  took  five  of  their  positions,  three  stands  of  colors, 
and  as  many  pieces  of  artillery. 
"  God  and  Liberty  ! 

«  SANTA  ANNA." 


I. 

(See  page  151.) 


General  Minon  published  a  letter  in  the  "  Inde- 
pendiente,"  in  which,  after  defending  himself,  he 
attempts  to  account  for  the  disasters  of  the  battle, 
and  denies  that  the  Mexican  army  was  suffering  for 
want  of  food. 

"To  the  Editors  op  the  <  Independiente.' 

"  Santa  Maria  del  Rio,  April  10,  1847. 

"  Dear  Sirs  :  The  nation  will  know,  one 

day,  what  that  was  which  was  called,  without  shame, 

the  victory  of  La  Angostura ;  it  will  know  that  it  had 

brave  soldiers,  worthy  to  rival,  in  ardor  and  enthu- 


218  APPENDIX. 

siasm,  the  best  of  any  army  whatever  ;  that  it  had  in- 
trepid officers,  who  led  them  gallantly  to  the  combat,  — 
but  that  it  had  no  general  who  knew  how  to  make  use 
of  these  excellent  materials.  The  nation  will  know 
that  if,  on  those  memorable  fields,  a  true  and  splendid 
victory  was  not  achieved,  no  one  was  to  blame  but 
him  who  was  charged  with  leading  the  forces,  be- 
cause he  did  not  know  how  to  do  it.  According  to 
the  order  of  the  attack,  and  with  a  knowledge  of  the 
positions  occupied  by  the  enemy,  speaking  in  accord- 
ance with  the  rules  of  art,  we  ought  to  have  been  de- 
feated. We  were  not,  because  the  valor  of  our  troops 
overcame  all  the  disadvantages  with  which  we  had  to 
struggle.  The  battle  of  La  Angostura  was  nothing  but 
an  unconnected  succession  of  sublime  individual  deeds, 
—  partial  attacks  of  the  several  corps  who  entered  the 
action.  Their  chiefs  led  them  according  to  the  divers 
positions  taken  by  the  enemy,  in  consequence  of  the 
partial  defeats  which  he  suffered ;  but  there  was  no 
methodical  direction,  no  general  regulated  attack,  no 
plan  in  which  the  efforts  of  the  troops,  according  to 
their  class,  were  combined,  that  did,  or  could,  produce  a 
victory.  General  Santa  Anna  believes  that  war  is  re- 
duced to  the  fighting  of  the  troops  of  one  and  the  other 
party,  wherever  they  meet,  and  however  they  choose  ; 
General  Santa  Anna  believes  that  a  battle  is  no  more 
than  the  shock  of  men,  with  much  noise,  shouts,  and 
shots,  to  see  who  can  do  the  most,  each  in  his  own 
way  ;  General  Santa  Anna  cannot  conceive  how  it 
happens  that  a  victory  may  be  gained  over  an  enemy 
by  wise   and  well-calculated  manoeuvres.     Thus  it  is, 


APPENDIX.  219 

that  he  has  eveiy where  been  routed,  and  he  always 
will  be,  unless  he  should  have  the  fortune  to  meet 
with  one  who  has  the  same  ideas  with  himself  in  rela- 
tion to  war. 

"  But,  leaving  it  to  others  to  elucidate  all  that  hap- 
pened during  this  campaign  of  February,  the  very 
grave  faults  committed  by  the  general  who  conducted 
it,  and  the  fatal  consequences  which  it  immediately 
had,  and  which  it  will  continue  to  have,  on  the  war  in 
which  we  are  engaged,  I  shall  confine  myself  to  that 
which  concerns  me.  It  is  false  that  I  was  not  present 
at  the  rear-guard  of  the  enemy  during  the  battle  of 
the  23d  of  February.  I  was  not  only  present,  but  I  suf- 
fered, with  the  whole  brigade  which  I  commanded,  from 
the  fire  they  kept  up  on  us.  The  whole  city  of  Sal- 
tillo,  in  sight  of  which  I  was  all  day,  and  the  enemy 
himself,  will  testify  to  it.  ...      \ye  were  so 

much  present,  that  General  Taylor  ordered  six  pieces 
of  artillery  to  open  upon  us  at  that  point,  and  there 
were  more  than  a  thousand  men  engaged  in  observing 
my  brigade,  who  took  no  part  in  the  action  ; —  these 
lessened  the  force  that  General  Santa  Anna  had  to 
fight.  I  did  not  withdraw  from  there  till  nightfall, 
and  when  the  battle  had  entirely  ceased.  I  retired 
within  view  of  the  enemy's  troops,  who  sallied  from 
Saltillo,  with  four  pieces  of  cannon,  to  engage  us. 
The  roughness  of  the  ground,  —  wholly  cut  up  by  an 
infinity  of  deep  ravines,  —  rendered  useless  any  at- 
tempt whatever  on  the  part  of  my  cavalry.     •     •    * 

"  The  only  reason,  the  true  cause,  of  this  animosity 
of  General  Santa  Anna  towards  me,  is,  that  I  disap- 


220  APPENDIX. 

proved  of  his  retiring  from  the  field  of  Angostura, 
as  is  seen  by  my  communications,  numbered  4  and 
5.  I  believed  then,  and  I  believe  now,  that  the 
army  which  had  left  San  Luis  might  have  remained 
at  that  point,  and  completed  the  great  work,  which  it 
had  undertaken,  of  destroying  the  enemy.  Many  be- 
lieve the  same  as  I  do.  It  is  false  that  there  was  not 
food  or  water.  There  was  every  thing,  —  I  myself 
supplied  General  Santa  Anna.  I  advised  him  repeat- 
edly of  what  I  had  at  my  disposition,  —  beeves,  corn, 
flour,  —  where  I  was.  I  indicated  to  him  the  route  by 
which  he  could  move,  without  embarrassment,  to  Sal- 
tillo,  without  scarcity  of  water,  of  forage  for  the  horses, 
or  of  provisions  for  the  troops.  I  had  not  less  than 
700  beeves  confined  in  an  enclosure,  all  of  which 
I  shared  with  him  as  opportunity  offered.  His  retire- 
ment was  unjustifiable,  and  much  more  so  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  undertook  it,  —  in  the  midst  of 
the  darkness  of  night,  —  abandoning,  without  necessity, 
hundreds  of  the  unhappy  wounded,  and,  in  appear- 
ance, much  more  like  that  of  a  fugitive,  desirous  of 
concealing  from  the  enemy  his  defeat,  that  he  might 
not  finish  his  destruction,  than  that  of  a  general  who 
desired  to  take  breathing-time,  but  who  could  have 
obliged  any  that  attempted  to  impede  him  to  give 
way.  This  is  the  only  and  true  cause  of  my  perse* 
cution,  —  there  is  no  other.  General  Santa  Anna 
properly  supposed  that  I  would  not  desist  from  speak- 
ing, and  telling  the  nation  what  had  occurred  on  those 
days,  and  he  desired  to  prevent  me.  He  imprisoned 
me,  and  cut  me  off  from  all  communication.      He 


APPENDIX.  221 

desired,  at  the  same  time,  to  deprive  me  of  my  papers, 
in  order  to  make  my  vindication  impossible ;  but  I  pre- 
served them,  thanks  to  my  foresight,  and  will  answer, 
with  dates,  whatever  charges  they  may  bring  against  me. 
If  there  is  any  thing  painful  to  me  in  this  affair,  it  is 
that  I  am  withdrawn  from  the  front  of  the  enemy,  and 
deprived  of  the  privilege  of  shedding  my  blood  for  my 
country,  to  which  I  owe  all,  —  my  rank  and  my  sub- 
sistence. This  I  feel, —  nothing  else.  May  I  be  per- 
mitted to  give  my  feeble  services,  to  pay,  in  some 
manner,  this  sacred  debt ;  I  will  do  it  to  merit  my 
country's  esteem  ;  and  if  I  enjoy  that,  of  no  conse- 
quence to  me  is  the  hatred  of  my  enemies,  whom  I 

pity  and  despise. 

«  J.  V.  MINON." 


(See  page  155.) 


The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  dated  March  22, 
1847,  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  General  Scott, 
indicates  the  extreme  solicitude  which  was  felt  at 
Washington,  at  General  Taylor's  critical  condition ; 
and,  also,  the  just  appreciation  which  the  Department 
of  War  entertained  of  the  momentous  consequences 
depending  on  the  battle  : 

"  The  information  which  has  just  reached  us  in  the 
shape  of  rumors,  as  to  the  situation  of  General  Tay- 
lor, and  the  forces  under  his  command,  has  excited 
the  most  painful  apprehensions  for  his  safety.     It  is 


222  APPENDIX. 

almost  certain  that  Santa  Anna  has  precipitated  the 
large  army  he  had  collected  at  San  Luis  de  Potosi 
upon  General  Taylor  ;  and  it  may  be,  that  the  General 
has  not  been  able  to  maintain  the  advanced  position  he 
had  seen  fit  to  take  at  Agua  Nueva,  but  has  been 
obliged  to  fall  back  on  Monterey.  It  is  equally  cer- 
tain, that  a  Mexican  force  has  been  interposed  between 
Monterey  and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  that  it  has  inter- 
rupted the  line  of  communication  between  the  two 
places,  and  seized  large  supplies,  which  were  on  their 
way  to  General  Taylor's  army. 

"  If  the  hostile  force  between  the  Rio  Grande  and 
General  Taylor's  army  is  as  large  as  report  repre- 
sents it,  our  troops  now  on  that  river  may  not  be  able 
to  reestablish  the  line  ;  nor  will  it,  perhaps,  be  possible 
to  place  a  force  there,  sufficient  for  the  purpose,  in 
time  to  prevent  disastrous  consequences  to  our  army, 
unless  aid  can  he  afforded  from  ike  troops  under  your 
immediate  command. 

"  From  one  to  two  thousand  of  the  new  recruits  for 
the  ten  regiments,  from  this  quarter,  will  be  on  the 
way  to  the  Brazos,  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  days. 
All  the  other  forces  will  be  directed  to  that  point,  and 
every  effort  made  to  relieve  General  Taylor  from  his 
critical  situation.  You  will  have  been  fully  apprized, 
before  this  can  reach  you,  of  the  condition  of  things 
in  the  Valley  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  at  the  head- 
quarters of  General  Taylor ;  and  have  taken,  I  trust, 
such  measures  as  the  importance  of  the  subject  re- 
quires. I  need  not  urge  upon  you  the  fatal  conse- 
quences which  would  result  from  any  serious  disaster 


APPENDIX.  223 

which  might  befall  the  army  under  General  Taylor, 
nor  do  I  doubt  that  you  will  do  what  is  in  your  power 
to  avert  such  a  calamity." 


K. 

These  are  the  orders  issued  to  the  troops  after  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista  : 

"  Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation, 
Buena  Vista,  February  26,  1847. 

"  The  commanding  General  has  the  grateful  task 
of  congratulating  the  troops  upon  the  brilliant  success 
which  attended  their  arms  in  the  conflict  of  the  22d 
and  23d.  Confident  in  their  superiority  of  numbers, 
and  stimulated  by  the  presence  of  a  distinguished 
leader,  the  Mexican  troops  were  yet  repulsed  in  every 
effort  to  force  our  lines,  and  finally  withdrew,  with  im- 
mense loss,  from  the  field. 

"The  General  would  express  his  obligations  to  the 
officers  and  men  engaged,  for  the  cordial  support 
which  they  rendered  throughout  the  action ;  it  will  be 
his  highest  pride  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  govern- 
ment the  conspicuous  gallantry  of  particular  officers 
and  corps,  whose  unwavering  steadiness  more  than 
once  saved  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  He  would  also 
express  his  high  satisfaction  with  the  conduct  of  a 
small  command  left  to  hold  Saltillo ;  though  not  so  se- 
riously engaged  as  their  comrades,  their  services  were 
very  important  and  efficiently  rendered.  While  be- 
stowing this  just  tribute  to  the  good  conduct  of  the 


224  APPENDIX. 

troops,  the  General  deeply  regrets  to  say  that  there 
were  a  few  exceptions.  He  trusts  that  those  who 
fled  ingloriously  from  Buena  Vista,  and  went  to  Sal- 
tillo,  will  seek  an  opportunity  to  retrieve  their  reputa- 
tion, and  to  emulate  the  bravery  of  their  comrades, 
who  bore  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  and  sustained,  against 
fearful  odds,  the  honor  of  the  flag.  The  exultation  of 
success  is  checked  by  the  heavy  sacrifice  of  life  which 
it  has  cost,  embracing  many  officers  of  high  rank 
and  high  merit.  While  the  sympathies  of  a  grateful 
country  will  be  given  to  the  bereaved  families  and 
friends  of  those  who  nobly  fell,  their  illustrious  ex- 
ample will  remain  for  the  benefit  and  admiration  of 
the  army. 

uBy  order  of  General  Taylor. 

"W.W.S.  BLISS, 
"Assistant  Adjutant-  General." 


L. 

General  Orders,  No.  54. 

Head-Quarters  of  the  Army  of  the  U.  S., 

Vergara,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  15,  1847. 

The  General-in-Chief  of  the  army  has  received  au- 
thentic information  of  a  great  and  glorious  victory, 
obtained  by  the  arms  of  our  country  under  the  suc- 
cessful Major-General  Taylor,  at  Buena  Vista,  near 
Saltillo,  on  the  22d  and  23d  ultimo.  The  general  re- 
sults were  4000  of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded, 
against  our  loss  of  700  gallant  men.     General  Santa 


APPENDIX.  225 

Anna,  on  sustaining  that  overwhelming  defeat,  is  known 
to  have  retreated  upon  San  Louis  de  Potosi,  and  prob- 
ably will  not  stop  short  of  the  capital. 

The  General-in-Chief  imparts  this  glorious  news  to 
the  army,  that  all  with  him  may  participate  in  the  joy 
that  is  now  spreading  itself  throughout  the  breadth  of 
our  country. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Scott. 

H.  L.  SCOTT,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

No  official  report  is  yet  received. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

March  17,  1847. 


M. 

War  Department, 
April  3, 1847. 

Sir  :  Your  communications  of  the  24th  and  25th 
of  February  and  the  1st  of  March,  announcing  the 
brilliant  success  of  the  troops  under  your  command  at 
Buena  Vista,  against  the  forces  of  the  enemy  vastly 
superior  in  numbers,  have  been  laid  before  the  Presi- 
dent, and  I  am  instructed  to  convey  to  you  his  high 
appreciation  of  the  distinguished  services  rendered  to 
the  country  by  yourself  and  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  your  command  on  that  occasion. 

The  victory  achieved  at  Buena  Vista,  while  it  adds 
new  glory  to  our  arms,  and  furnishes  new  proofs  of 
the  valor  and  brave  daring  of  our  officers  and  sol- 
diers, will  excite  the  admiration  and  call  forth  the  grati- 
tude of  the  nation. 
15 


226  APPENDIX. 

The  single  fact  that  5000  of  our  troops,  nearly 
all  volunteers,  who,  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  patriot- 
ism, had  rallied  to  their  country's  standard  for  a  tem- 
porary service,  were  brought  into  conflict  with  an  army 
of  20,000,  mostly  veteran  soldiers,  and  not  only  stood 
and  repulsed  the  assaults  of  this  numerous  host,  led 
by  their  most  experienced  general,  but  in  a  protracted 
battle  of  two  days  won  a  glorious  victory,  is  the  most 
indubitable  evidence  of  the  consummate  skill  and  gal- 
lant conduct  of  our  officers  and  the  devoted  heroism 
of  the  troops  under  their  command.  It  will  ever  be  a 
proud  distinction  to  have  been  in  the  memorable  battle 
of  Buena  Vista. 

The  general  joy  which  the  intelligence  of  this  suc- 
cess of  our  arms  has  spread  through  the  land  is  min- 
gled with  regret  that  it  has  been  obtained  at  so  great  a 
price,  —  that  so  many  heroic  men  have  fallen  in  that 
sanguinary  conflict.  They  died  in  the  intrepid  dis- 
charge of  a  patriotic  duty,  and  will  be  honored  and  la- 
mented by  a  grateful  nation. 

You  will  cause  this  communication  to  be  published 
to  the  troops  under  your  command. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 
Secretary  of  War. 

To  Major- General  Z.  Taylor. 


APPENDIX.  227 


N. 


On  the  28th  of  January,  Santa  Anna  issued  this 
proclamation  to  his  army,  and  directed  that  it  should 
be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regiment,  and  that  a 
printed  copy  be  furnished  to  each  company. 

"  His  Excellency  the  General-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  Opera- 
tions of  the  North,  to  all  under  his  command. 

"  Companions  in  arms  !  The  operations  of  the 
enemy  require  of  us  to  move  precipitately  on  their 
principal  line  ;  and  we  are  about  to  do  it.  The  inde- 
pendence, the  honor,  and  the  destinies  of  the  nation 
depend,  in  this  movement,  on  your  decision. 

"  Soldiers  !  The  entire  world  is  observing  us  ;  and 
it  is  obligatory  on  you  that  your  deeds  should  be  as 
heroic  as  they  are  necessary,  from  the  neglect  and 
abandonment  with  which  you  have  been  treated  by 
those  whose  duty  it  is  to  succor  you.  Privations  of 
all  kinds  await  you  ;  but  when  has  want  or  penury 
weakened  your  spirit  or  debilitated  your  enthusiasm  1 
The  Mexican  soldier  is  well  known  for  his  frugality 
and  his  capability  of  sufferance.  Never  does  he  need 
magazines  of  provisions  when  about  to  pass  the  des- 
erts ;  but  he  has  always  had  an  eye  to  the  resources 
and  supplies  of  his  enemy  to  administer  to  his  own 
wants.  To-day  you  commence  your  march,  through 
a  thinly-settled  country,  without  supplies  and  with- 
out provisions ;  but  you  may  be  assured  that  very 
quickly  you  will  be  in  possession  of  those  of  your 


228  APPENDIX. 

enemy,  and  of  his  riches  ;  and  with  them  all  your 
wants  will  be  superabundantly  remedied. 

"  My  friends  !  We  are  about  to  open  the  campaign  ; 
and  who  can  tell  us  how  many  days  of  glory  await  us ! 
What  a  perspective,  so  full  of  hope  for  our  country  ! 
What  satisfaction  will  you  feel,  when  you  contemplate 
that  you  have  saved  our  independence  !  that  you  are 
the  objects  of  admiration  to  the  whole  world,  and  that 
our  own  country  will  shower  down  blessings  on  your 
head  !  O,  when  again  in  the  bosoms  of  your  fami- 
lies you  shall  relate  your  dangers  and  hardships  suf- 
fered, your  combats  and  triumphs  over  your  daring, 
presumptuous  foe,  —  when  you  tell  your  children  that 
you  have  given  them  their  country  a  second  time,  — 
your  jubilee  will  be  complete  ;  and  how  insignificant 
will  your  sacrifices  appear  ! 

"  Soldiers  !  Trust  confidingly  in  the  destinies  of 
your  country.  The  cause  we  sustain  is  holy,  and  never 
have  we  gone  to  the  conflict  with  so  much  justice,  for 
we  are  defending  the  home  of  our  forefathers  and  of 
our  posterity,  —  our  honor,  —  our  holy  religion,  —  our 
wives,  —  our  children.  What  sacrifice  is  too  great 
for  objects  so  dear  ?  Let  our  motto  be, "  To  conquer  or 
die."  Let  us  swear  before  the  Eternal,  that  we  will 
not  rest  one  instant  until  we  completely  wipe  away 
from  our  soil  the  vain-glorious  foreigner  who  has  dared 
to  pollute  it  with  his  presence.  No  terms  with  him, 
—  nothing  for  us  but  heroism  and  grandeur. 

"ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 
"  Head-Quarters,  in  Sari.  Luis  Potosi,  Jan.  27,  1847. 
"  By  order  of  his  Excellency. 

"  MICHELTORENA." 


APPENDIX.  229 


O. 

This  is  the  order  of  march  commencing  the  move- 
ment of  the  "  Liberating  Army  of  the  North  " 
from  San  Luis  cle  Potosi. 

"  General  Orders,  Jan.  26,  1847. 
"Officer -in- Chief  of  the  Day —  Lieutenant- Colonel  Don 

Manuel  Romero. 
"Head- Quarters  1st  Brigade. —  Order  of  march  of  the  Army. 

"  By  general  order,  the  General-in-Chief  commands 
that  the  baggage  shall  not  be  carried  with  the  army, 
nor  shall  the  soldiers  take  their  knapsacks,  but  shall 
wear  their  dress  of  Russia  duck,  and  over  this  their 
suit  of  cloth ;  they  shall  only  take  two  shirts,  four 
rounds  of  cartridges,  and  two  flints,  including  the  one 
in  their  guns ;  they  shall  carry  nothing  except  their 
cooking  utensils.  All  the  officers  and  other  persons 
shall  march  in  their  places,  and,  when  bivouacking, 
shall  keep  at  the  head  of  their  respective  commands. 

"  On  the  27th,  the  following  pieces  of  artillery  will 
march :  Three  24's,  three  16's,  five  12's,  and  eight  8- 
pounders,  and  one  howitzer,  with  ammunition  corre- 
sponding to  each,  and  also  the  platforms  for  the  large 
pieces ;  500  boxes  of  musket-ammunition,  12,000 
flints,  and  the  remainder  of  the  canister  and  grape  of 
the  three  pieces,  which  were  in  Tula,  —  all  of  which 
will  be  placed  in  the  twenty-one  wagons  contracted 
for ;  and  what  remains,  on  450  mules,  which  the 
chief  of  the  staff  will  order  to  be  delivered  to  the  com- 
manding officer  of  artillery.     The  ammunition  of  the 


230  APPENDIX. 

pieces  above  expressed  will  be  escorted  by  themselves, 
and  by  the  company  of  sappers  and  miners  who  be- 
long to  the  regiment  of  engineers,  and  by  the  artil- 
lerists of  the  light  brigade,  who  will  take  with  them 
all  the  implements  necessary  for  sapping  and  mining, 
in  the  wagons  which  the  sappers  have  ;  the  sacks  for 
filling  with  earth  will  be  carried  on  mules,  which  will 
be  furnished  by  the  chief  of  the  staff. 

"  On  Thursday,  the  28th,  the  5th  brigade  of  infantry, 
under  the  command  of  Don  Francisco  Pacheco,  will 
commence  its  march,  sending  ahead  always,  the  even- 
ing previous,  an  officer  to  procure  lodgings  and  pre- 
pare rations  for  the  troops. 

"  On  Friday,  the  29th,  the  1st  and  2d  brigades  will 
march  out  in  the  same  manner,  under  the  orders  of 
Don  Rafael  Garcia  Conde  ;  these  brigades  will  be  con- 
sidered as  united  until  further  orders,  and  consequent- 
ly all  the  infantry  is  placed  under  the  command  of 
General  of  Brigade,  Don  Manuel  Maria  Lombardini. 

"  On  Saturday,  the  30th,  the  4th  and  6th  brigades 
will  march  in  like  manner,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Don  Luis  Guzman. 

"  The  medical  staff  having  left  in  the  hospitals  of 
this  city  four  junior  surgeons,  and  only  the  necessaries 
for  the  service,  all  the  rest  will  march,  apportioned 
among  the  different  brigades,  under  the  orders  of  the 
Medical  Inspector-General,  with  all  their  medicines, 
and  articles  necessary  for  the  campaign. 

"  The  General's  staff  and  its  chief  will  depart,  after 
having  advanced  all  the  brigades  and  material  of  war, 
taking  particular  care  that,  after  arriving  at  Matahuala, 


APPENDIX.  231 

the  staff  will  be  distributed  to  each  division,  according 
to  the  necessities  of  the  service. 

"All  the  military  left  in  the  city  will  know  as  their 
Commander-in-Chief  the  General  of  Brigade,  Don  Juan 
Amador,  under  whose  command  are  the  fortifications, 
instruction,  and  discipline  of  the  troops,  and  likewise 
the  defence  of  the  city  and  state,  —  he  being  the  com- 
manding General.  There  will  remain  in  this  city  only 
those  soldiers  who  are  incapable  of  doing  service  in 
the  campaign.  And  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  they, 
—  all  the  new  i*ecruits,  —  the  sick,  the  weak,  and  un- 
armed, will  be  marched  in  and  take  possession  of  the 
different  barracks  ;  for  it  is  the  desire  of  the  President 
General-in-Chief,  that  only  those  soldiers  should  march 
who  are  capable  of  performing  the  duties  and  bearing 
the  fatigues  and  privations  of  war. 

"  Each  brigade  will  leave  in  this  city  persons  capa- 
ble of  instructing  their  recruits ;  and,  for  the  defence 
of  the  place,  at  least  one  captain,  and  subalterns  in 
proportion  to  their  respective  numbers. 

"  The  General-in-Chief,  Don  Manuel  Maria  Lom- 
bardini,  will  order  that,  by  twelve  o'clock,  A.  M.,  to- 
morrow, a  list  be  made  and  delivered  to  the  chief  of 
the  staff,  of  all  the  baggage  to  be  transported  belonging 
to  each  and  every  corps.  The  artillery,  engineer, 
quartermaster,  and  medical  staffs  will  also  comply 
with  this  order. 

"  The  chief  of  the  staff  will  remit  to  each  chief  of 
section  instructions  necessary  for  the  march. 

"  Every  officer  belonging  to  this  army,  whatever 
may  be  his  rank  or  title,  will  read  to  the  troops  under 
his  command  the  following  order  : 


233  APPENDIX. 

"  1st.  Any  person  who  may  desert  his  flag  shall 
suffer  death,  agreeably  to  article  57th,  of  the  29th  De- 
cember, 1838. 

"  2d.  Any  person  who  may  be  found  half  a  league 
distant  from  this  city,  or  from  the  camp,  shall  be  con- 
sidered guilty  of  the  crime  of  desertion. 
"  By  order  of  his  Excellency, 

"SALAZAR,   Colonel, 

"  VASQUEZ,  General  of  Brigade. ' ' 


This  is  the  final  order  of  march  and  general  dis- 
position of  the  Mexican  army  on  leaving  La  Encar- 
nacion  for  Agua  Nueva.  Many  important  discrepan- 
cies exist  between  it  and  Santa  Anna's  Report,  made 
out  after  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

"  General  Orders  of  the  20th  and  the  21st  Feb.  1847. 
"  General  Officer  of  the  Day  —  Don  Rafael  Vasq.uez. 

"Aides  —  Col.  Jose  Ma.  Bermxjdea,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Don 
Florencio  Aspeitia. 

"And  for  to-morrow  —  Don  Francisco  Mejia,  General 

Officer  of  the  Day, 

"Aides—-  Col.  Don  Carlos  Brito,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Don  Gre- 

gorio  Elati. 

"  In  the  morning  the  army  will  continue  its  march, 
which  will  commence  at  eleven  o'clock  precisely,  in 
the  followin£  order  : 


APPENDIX.  233 

"  The  1st,  2d,  3d,  and  4th  battalions  of  light  infantry 
will  take  the  lead,  under  the  orders  of  General  Am- 
pudia,  so  that  he  may  be  able  to  avail  himself  of  all 
advantages  that  the  circumstances  may  require  ;  imme- 
diately after,  the  battalion  of  sappers  ;  and  in  its  rear, 
and  at  the  head  of  the  division  of  infantry  of  the  van, 
under  the  orders  of  General  Pacheco,  will  be  placed 
the  company  of  sharp-shooters,  and  three  pieces  of 
16's,  with  their  respective  artillerists  and  reserve  ;  as 
likewise  the  ammunition,  composed  of  100  round  shot 
and  100  grape  for  each  piece,  and  80  boxes  of  mus- 
ket ammunition,  each  containing  9600  cartridges. 

"  Division  of  infantry  of  the  centre,  commanded  by 
General  Manuel  Ma.  Lombardini,  will  follow.  At  the 
head  of  this  column  there  will  be  five  12's,  as  above 
named  and  ammunitioned,  and  also  80  boxes  of  mus- 
ket ammunition. 

"  At  the  head  of  the  division  of  the  rear,  commanded 
by  General  Ortega,  there  will  be  five  pieces  of  8's, 
supplied  with  men  and  ammunition  as  above,  and  also 
its  80  boxes  of  musket  ammunition,  each  containing 
9600  cartridges. 

"  The  division  of  cavalry  of  the  rear  will  follow  close- 
ly on  the  last  of  infantry,  having  at  their  head  the  hus- 
sars, and  in  their  rear  the  general  ammunition  train, 
escorted  by  the  brigade  of  horse  artillery ;  after  the 
ammunition  train,  all  the  camp  followers  of  all  classes, 
with  the  baggage  of  all  kinds,  laundresses,  cooks, 
&c,  —  it  being  distinctly  understood  that  no  woman 
will  be  allowed  to  mix  with  the  column.     The  chief  in 


234 


APPENDIX. 


charge  of  the  commissary  department  is  Don  Pedro 
"Rangel,  who  is  also  in  charge  of  the  baggage  train. 

"  His  Excellency,  the  General-in-Chief,  furthermore 
orders  that  the  different  corps  shall  to-day  receive 
from  the  commissary  three  days'  rations,*  for  the  21st, 
22d,  and  23d  ;  and  that  they  require  the  necessary 
meat  this  afternoon  for  the  first  meal  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, which  the  troops  are  directed  to  eat  one  hour 
before  taking  up  the  line  of  march ;  and  the  second  will 
be  taken  in  their  haversacks,  to  be  eaten  in  the  night, 
wherever  they  may  halt ;  this  last  will  consist  of  meat, 
two  biscuits,  and  half  a  cake  of  (jnloncillo)  brown 
sugar  for  each  man ;  for,  on  the  night  of  the  21st 
there  will  be  no  fires  permitted,  neither  will  signal 
be  made  by  any  military  instrument  of  music,  the 
movement  at  early  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the 
22d  having  to  be  made  in  the  most  profound  silence. 

"The  troops  will  drink  all  the  water  they  can  before 
marching,  and  will  take  with  them  in  their  canteens, 
or  other  vessels,  all  they  can  possibly  carry  ;  they  will 
economize  the  water  all  they  can,  for  we  shall  encamp 
at  night  without  water,  and  shall  not  arrive  at  it  until 
the  following  day.  The  chief  of  corps  will  pay  much, 
much,  much  attention  to  this  last  instruction. 

"  Each  mule  belonging  to  the  ammunition  train, 
and  the  horses  of  officers,  will  receive  two  rations 
of  corn,  which  they  will  take  with  them  ;  and  these 
will  be  fed  to  them  to-morrow  night  at  dusk ;   and 

*  See  the  extract  from  Santa  Anna's  letter  to  the  Minis- 
ter of  War  and  Marine  on  page  151,  in  which  he  says  his 
troops  had  but  one  ration. 


APPENDIX.  235 

on  the  following  morning,  at  dayhreak,  the  horses' 
girths  will  only  be  slackened,  and  the  mules  will  nots 
be  unharnessed  while  they  are  eating.  The  light 
brigade  will  likewise  obey  this  order  on  the  night  of 
the  21st,  only  loosening  their  saddles  a  little.  The 
horses  and  mules  will  all  be  taken  to  water  before 
commencing  the  march. 

"  Each  division  will  take  with  it  its  respective  medi- 
cal staff,  hospital  attendants,  medicines,  &c,  as  regu- 
lated by  the  Medical  Inspector-General. 

"  The  chaplain-in-chief  will  provide  each  division 
with  its  chaplain.  He  will  also,  as  to-morrow  is  a  feast 
day,  order  mass  to  be  said  at  six  o'clock  in  front  of  the 
position  occupied  by  the  vanguard,  at  seven  o'clock  in 
front  of  the  centre,  at  eight  o'clock  in  front  of  the 
rear  guard,  and  at  nine  o'clock  in  front  of  the  division 
of  cavalry. 

"  General  Don  Francisco  Perez  is  ordered  to  be  rec- 
ognized as  second  in  command  to  General  Lombar- 
dini,  and  General  Don  Luis  Guzman  as  second  to 
General  Ortega. 

"  To  facilitate  the  duties  of  the  conductor-general 
of  the  baggage  train,  the  cavalry  of  Celaya  and  all  the 
presidial  troops  are  hereby  placed  under  his  command. 

"  His  Excellency,  the  General-in-Chief,  recommends 
to  every  officer  punctual  compliance  with,  and  obedi- 
ence to,  each  and  every  part  of  this,  his  general  order. 
"  By  order  of  his  Excellency, 

"MANUEL  MICKELTORENA, 

" Chief  of the  General  Staff" 


236  APPENDIX. 

Q- 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  still  in  the 
Regular  Army,  who  were  engaged  in  the  operations 
referred  to  in  the  foregoing  narrative.  Their  present 
rank  is  prefixed  to  their  names,  and  they  are  placed 
in  the  position  they  now  occupy,  whether  in  the  Staff 
or  in  the  Line. 

GENERAL  OFFICERS. 

Major- General  ZACHARY  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Major-General  JOHN  E.  WOOL. 

general  staff. 

adjutant-general's  department. 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  W.  S.  Bliss, 
Brevet  Captain  Irvin  McDowell. 

inspector-general's  department. 
Brevet  Brigadier- General  Sylvester  Churchill. 

quarterbiaster's  department. 

Colonel  Henry  Whiting, 
Brevet  Major  Ebenezer  S.  Sibley, 
Brevet  Major  William  W.  Chapman, 
Brevet  Major  James  L.  Donaldson. 

subsistence  department. 
Brevet  Major  Amos  B.  Eaton. 

MEDICAL    DEPARTMENT. 

Surgeon  Presley  H.  Craig, 
Assistant  Surgeon  Charles  M.  Hitchcock, 
Assistant  Surgeon  Thomas  C.  Madison, 
Assistant  Surgeon  William  Levely, 
Assistant  Surgeon  Grayson  M.  Prevost. 


APPENDIX.  237 


PAY   DEPARTMENT. 

Brevet  Lieutenant- Colonel  Roger  S.  Dix, 
Major  Andrew  J.  Coffee. 

CORPS    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Brevet  Colonel   Joseph  K.  F.  Mansfield, 
Brevet  Captain  Henry  "W.  Benham. 

CORPS    OF    TOPOGRAPHICAL    ENGINEERS. 

Brevet   Major   Thomas  B.  Linnard, 
Brevet  Captain  Lorenzo  Sitgreaves, 
Brevet  Captain  John  Pope, 
Brevet  1st  Lieutenant  William  B.  Franklin, 
Brevet  1st  Lieutenant  Francis  T.  Bryan. 

ORDNANCE    DEPARTMENT. 

Brevet  Lieutenant-  Colonel  Henry  K.  Craig, 

Brevet  1st  Lieutenant  Charles  P.  Kingsbury. 

LINE. 

FIRST    REGIMENT    OF    DRAGOONS. 

Captain  Enoch  Steen, 
Captain  Robert  H.  Chilton, 
Captain  Daniel  H.  Rucker, 
Captain  James  H.  Carleton, 
1st  Lieutenant  Abraham  Buford, 
1st  Lieutenant  Joseph  H.  Whittlesey, 
2d  Lieutenant  Samuel  D.  Sturgis, 
2d  Lieutenant  George  F.  Evans. 

SECOND  REGIMENT  OF  -DRAGOONS. 

Brevet  Lieutenant- Colonel  Charles  A.  May, 

1st  Lieutenant  Reuben  P.  Campbell, 
2d  Lieutenant  Newton  C.  Gtvens, 
2d  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Wood, 


238  APPENDIX. 

FIRST    REGIMENT    OF    ARTILLERY. 

Brevet  Major  Ltjcian  B.  Websteb, 
Captain  James  H.  Prentiss, 
1st  Lieutenant  James  B.  Bicketts, 
1st  Lieutenant  Isaac  Botven, 
1st  Lieutenant  Abner  Doubleday. 

SECOND    REGIMENT    OF    ARTILLERY. 
Brevet  Colonel  John  Munroe. 

THIRD    REGIMENT    OF    ARTILLERY. 

Brevet  Lieutenant-  Colonel  Braxton  Bragg, 
Brevet  Lieutenant- Colonel  John  M.  Washington, 
Brevet   Major  Thomas  "W.  Sherman, 
Brevet   Major  William  H.  Shover, 
Brevet  Major   George  H.  Thomas, 
Brevet  Captain  John  F.  Reynolds, 
Brevet  Captain  Samuel  G.  French. 

FOURTH    REGIMENT    OF    ARTILLERY. 

Brevet    Major  Robert  S.  Garnett, 
Brevet    Major  John  P.  J.  O'Brien, 

Brevet  Captain  Thomas  L.  Brent, 
1st  Lieutenant  Henry  M.  Whiting, 
1st  Lieutenant  Darius  N.  Couch. 

THIRD    REGIMENT    OF    INFANTRY. 
Brevet  Major  Joseph  H.  Eaton. 

FIFTH    REGIMENT    OF    INFANTRY. 
Brevet  Colonel  William  G.  Belknap. 


the   END. 


J)arpn*'0  H$tw  Catalogue. 

A  new  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Harper  &  Broth- 
ers' Publications  is  now  ready  for  distribution,  and  may 
be  obtained  gratuitously  on  application  to  the  Publishers 
personally,  or  by  letter,  post-paid. 

The  attention  of  gentlemen,  in  town  or  country,  designing 
to  form  Libraries  or  enrich  their  literary  collections,  is  re- 
spectfully invited  to  this  Catalogue,  which  will  be  found  to 
comprise  a  large  proportion  of  the  standard  and  most  es- 
teemed works  in  English  Literature — comprehending  about 
two  thousand  volumes — which  are  offered  in  most  instan 
ces  at  less  than  one  half  the  cost  of  similar  productions  in 
England. 

To  Librarians  and  others  connected  with  Colleges, 
Schools,  etc.,  who  may  not  have  access  to  a  reliable  guide 
in  forming  the  true  estimate  of  literary  productions,  it  is  be- 
lieved the  present  Catalogue  will  prove  especially  valuable 
as  a  manual  of  reference. 

To  prevent  disappointment,  it  is  suggested  that,  when- 
ever books  can  not  be  obtained  through  any  bookseller  or 
local  agent,  applications  with  remittance   should  be  ad 
dressed  direct  to  the  Publishers,  which  will  be  promptly  at 
tended  to, 


HARPER'S   NEW   MISCELLANY 

OF 

POPULAR  STERLING  LITERATURE. 

"  Books  that  have  an  aim  and  meaning  in  them." 

Now  in  course  of  publication,  a  new  and  attractive  library 
of  sterling  books,  elegantly  printed  in  duodecimo,  on  fine 
paper,  and  bound  in  extra  muslin  gilt,  fitted  for  permanent 
preservation. 

PRICE   FIFTY  CENTS  A  VOLUME. 

The  cheapest  Popular  Series  of  Works  yet  Published. 
.*+*./**&.  ■///>/»«- — - 
I.,  II. 

Elements  of  Morality  &nd  Polity. 

BY    WILLIAM    WHEW  ELL,     D.D., 

AUTHOR    OF   "HISTORY   AND   PHILOSOPHY   OF    THE     INDUCTIVE    SCTEN 
CES,"   &C. 

2  vols.  12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  Si  00. 

Dr.  Whewell's  work  ought  to  be  read,  because  it  can  not  be  read  without 
advantage  :  the  age  requires  such  books. — London  Athenaeum. 

A  text-book  of  simple  truths,  from  which,  by  induction,  a  complete  sys- 
tem of  morality  is  constructed,  applicable  to  all  the  relations  and  circum- 
stances of  life,  and  embracing  every  department  of  human  action.  The 
reader  who  shall  carefully  study  these  volumes — and  a  more  inviting  page, 
clear  and  legible,  the  eye  does  not  often  rest  upon — will  find  his  labor  more 
than  rewarded. — Nevi  York  Commercial  Advertiser. 

Professor  Whewell's  "  Elements  of  Morality"  have  been  universally  re- 
ceived in  England  as  a  contribution  of  rare  value  to  the  department  of  moral 
and  political  science. — Baltimore  American. 

A  splendid  production  by  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  scientific 
men  of  the  age.  This  is  a  book,  not  to  be  read  merely,  but  to  be  re-perused 
and  patiently  studied  ;  we  have  heard  it  pronounced  by  no  mean  critic  the 
most  complete  and  lucid  work  on  ethical  philosophy  ever  produced.  We 
commend  this  work  to  the  especial  notice  of  thinkers  and  readers,  to  schol- 
ars and  schools  generally,  as  a  most  admirable  text-book. — Sun. 

The  style  of  the  work,  though  simple,  is  extremely  clear,  strong,  and  el- 
oquent. It  is  a  book  to  be  studied  rather  than  superficially  read,  and  can 
not  fail  to  be  of  the  very  highest  importance  in  instructing  and  disciplining 
the  public  mind. — American  Patriot. 

This  is  beyond  all  comparison  the  most  complete,  comprehensive,  and  lu- 
minous treatise  on  the  important  subjects  it  discusses,  that  is  to  be  found 
in  the  language,  and  its  careful  study  is  indispensable  to  every  one  who 
•would  obtain  true  and  definite  notions  in  regard  to  the  principles  of  public 
and  private  morals.  It  is  profoundly  learned  and  philosophical,  but  the  writ 
er  thinks  logically  and  clearly,  and  is  therefore  at  all  times  lucid  and  com- 
prehensible.— Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser. 


2  HARPER'S    NEW    MISCELLANY 

III. 

The  Philosophy  of  Mystery. 

BY    WALTER    COOPER    DENDY. 
12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  50  cents. 

This  is  a  learned  and  elaborate  work,  in  which  the  writer  goes  into  the 
investigation  of  all  the  phenomena  of  mind  in  the  erratic  operations  and 
phantasies  of  ghost  seeing  and  spectral  hallucinations,  and  aims  to  give  the 
true  philosophy  of  all  such  delusions.  He  is  a  medical  man  of  consider- 
able eminence,  and  has  spared  no  pains  in  his  researches,  giving  a  great 
number  of  facts  and  cases  to  illustrate  his  philosophy.  The  volume  will  be 
much  sought  for,  as  it  is  really  a  desideratum  in  the  world  of  literature. 
We  know  of  no  work  on  this  subject  which  lays  the  same  just  claim  to  public 
attention,  or  the  study  of  the  philosopher. — Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 

The  volume  before  us  is  both  instructive  and  amusing,  and  at  this  partic- 
ular time,  when  the  extremes  of  superstition  and  philosophy  have  shaken 
hands,  it  will  be  likely  to  effect  an  inconceivable  amount  of  good,  if  prop- 
erly studied.  It  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  productions  of  the  day,  and 
must  create  an  extraordinary  degree  of  interest  in  the  public  mind.— Mer- 
chant's Magazine. 

It  belongs  to  that  class  of  writings  which  you  can  take  up  and  put  down 
at  pleasure,  and  which  may  us  subjected  to  repeated  readings.  The  work 
is  pleasant,  however,  in  spite  of  this— pleasant  because  of  its  facts,  its  nu- 
merous details  of  mystery,  its  vast  collection  of  anecdote,  its  developments 
of  diablerie,  its  tidings  from  the  spiritual  world,  and  the  many  cases  which 
it  brings  together  of  the  curious  and  the  wonderful  in  nature  and  art,  which 
former  ages,  and  ignorance  and  superstition,  have  concluded  to  consider  su- 
pernatural. Where  science  and  modern  speculation  furnish  the  solution  to 
the  mystery,  Mr.  Dendy  couples  it  with  the  statements,  and  the  book  is 
thus  equally  valuable  and  amusing. — Charleston  Transcript. 

Here  lies  a  remarkable  work  ;  beautiful  in  its  style,  and  wondrous  in  its 
matter.  The  work  is  strictly  philosophical  in  its  tendency,  yet  more  amus- 
ing than  a  novel. — True  American. 

This  is  a  book  for  the  lovers  of  marvels  and  of  mysteries.  It  contains  an 
immense  collection  of  anecdotes  of  spectral  apparitions,  of  illusions  of  vision 
or  of  hearing,  of  striking  phenomena  exhibited  in  dreams,  in  insanity,  in 
trance,  or  in  magnetism,  and  furnishes  many  very  valuable  hints  to  aid  in 
the  solution  of  these  mysteries,  Try  which  so  many  have  been  bewildered 
or  affrighted.  It  is  written  in  a  style  of  great  ease  and  elegance,  and  can 
not  fail  to  find  a  very  wide  circle  of  welcoming  readers. — Albion. 

This  unique  and  remarkable  book  has  just  been  placed  on  our  table  ;  we 
know  its  reputation  of  old  ;  it  is  an  admirable  discourse  on  the  subject  of 
supernaturalisms,  such  as  mental  illusions,  dreams,  ghosts,  mesmeric  phe- 
nomena, &c.  If  any  one  will  but  read  the  first  half  dozen  pages,  we  will 
vouch  for  it  he  will  not  neglect  the  rest  of  the  volume  :  it  is  one  of  the  best 
written  books  on  one  of  the  most  curious  range  of  topics  that  could  engage 
the  pen  of  a  writer,  or  the  attention  of  a  reader.  It  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the 
most  curious  volumes  ever  perused,  upon  a  series  of  the  most  singular  sub- 
jects, and,  in  this  new  and  neat  form,  it  will  command  a  vast  number  of 
readers. — Sunday  Times. 

"  The  Philosophy  of  Mystery"  is  an  exceedingly  able  work  ;  far  better, 
we  think,  than  the  "  Natural  Magic"  of  Brewster,  a  book  of  identical  pur- 
pose, carried  out  in  a  totally  different  way.  The  "  Natural  Magic"  is  the 
more  ratiocinative,  Mr.  Dendy's  essay  the  more  poetical,  the  more  imagina- 
tive, and  to  us  the  more  interesting. — National  Press. 


OF    POPULAR    STERLING    LITERATURE. 


Tlae 

INCLUDING    HIS    CORRESPONDENCE. 
BY    EDWARD    HOLMES, 

AUTHOR  OF  "A  RAMBLE  AMONG  THE  MUSICIANS  OF  GERMANY,"  &C. 

12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  50  cents. 

It  is  written  in  a  beautiful,  narrative  style,  and  can  not  but  be  every 
where  acceptable.  To  all  who  appreciate  the  extraordinary  genius  of  Mo- 
zart, the  delicate  structure  of  his  mind,  the  incidents  of  his  life,  and  his  ro- 
mantic death,  this  volume  will  indeed  be  a  treasure. — Boston  Gazette. 

It  contains,  in  addition  to  much  of  his  interesting  correspondence,  and 
other  papers,  a  detailed  account  of  his  life,  adventures,  and  rise  as  an  artist, 
and  a  discriminating  sketch  of  his  character,  the  peculiarities  of  which  are 
happily  illustrated  by  anecdotes.  Many  things  of  him,  unknown  even  to 
his  admirers,  are  here  given  to  the  world,  and  his  biographer,  fully  appre- 
ciating the  artist,  has  yet,  not  like  a  flatterer,  but  with  true  independence, 
spoken  candidly  of  the  faults  of  the  man. — Merchant's  Magazine. 

Of  this  far-famed  life  of  Mozart  it  is  scarcely  necessary  for  us  to  say  a 
word  ;  the  foreign  reviews  have  been  so  unanimous  in  their  encomiums, 
that  we  suppose  few  will  be  found  insensible  to  the  strong  inducement  of 
its  perusal,  especially  as  the  work  may  be  obtained  at  the  trifling  cost  of 
half  a  dollar,  and  in  so  beautiful  a  guise.  We  have  looked  into  the  biog- 
raphy but  slightly,  yet  find  it  redolent  with  interest,  and  fully  sustaining 
the  high  estimate  placed  upon  the  work  by  the  London  Alhenceum  and 
Blackwood.  If  the  Harpers  continue  to  fill  their  new  library  with  sterling 
works  like  the  present,  it  will  present  the  most  truly  valuable  series,  yet 
the  cheapest,  ever  attempted  in  any  age  or  country. — Evening  Gazette. 

The  only  authentic  biography  of  the  great  composer  that  is  extant  in  the 
English  language,  and  the  events  of  his  career  are  replete  with  useful  ad- 
monitions and  warning  to  the  sons  of  genius,  and  they  whisper  to  those 
whose  present  claims  are  not  allowed  that  there  is  a  future  full  of  promise. 
In  his  life  Mozart  was  neglected  and  impoverished,  and  he  went  to  his 
grave  with  more  than  the  bitterness  of  death  crowding  on  his  thoughts, 
but  fame  has  taken  possession  of  his  memory,  and  among  those  who  move 
as  gods  in  musical  art,  few  are  equal  to  him,  none  are  superior.  This  bi- 
ography possesses  an  interest  for  all  who  feel  interested  in  the  great  men 
of  the  earth.  It  is  not  only  remarkably  well  written,  but  has  a  complete- 
ness about  it  we  have  never  found  before  in  any  life  of  Mozart. — Louisville 
Journal. 

There  is  such  a  charm  in  this  narrative,  that  the  lovers  of  good  biography 
can  not  hear  of  it  too  soon.  We  can  not  conceive  a  more  fascinating  story 
of  genius.  To  a  style  which  would  alone  have  sufficed  to  the  production 
of  an  interesting  and  striking  narrative,  Mr.  Holmes  unites  a  depth  of 
knowledge  and  musical  appreciation  very  rare  and  remarkable.  We  thank 
him  cordially  for  a  most  pleasing  addition  to  our  standard  biographical  lit- 
erature. — Examiner. 

The  book  is  one  of  extraordinary  interest,  not  merely  to  the  lovers  of 
music  and  appreciators  of  the  great  composer,  but  to  the  general  reader,  as 
a  vivid  picture  of  the  life  of  a  man  of  genius,  who  encountered  all  the  dif- 
ficulties, trials,  and  sufferings  usually  the  lot  of  genius  when  it  comes  be- 
fore a  world  incapable  of  appreciating  it,  and  indifferent  to  its  welfare.  The 
domestic  portions  of  the  book  are  invaluable  ;  his  relations  to  his  father  and 
his  wife  are  very  beautiful.  The  work  is  admirably  executed,  as  well  in  the 
scientific  is  auecdotical  passages,  and  is  worthy  of  the  vi  idest  sale. — News 


4  harper's  new  miscellany 

V. 


COMPRISING  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  LIGHT  AND  COLORS; 
PRACTICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  OP  ALL  KINDS  OF  TEL- 
ESCOPES, &C,  WITH  DESCRIPTIVE  ACCOUNTS  OF 
THE  EARL  OF  ROSSE's  LARGE  TELESCOPES,  AND 
OTHER  TOPICS  CONNECTED  WITH  ASTRONOMY. 
BY    THOMAS    DICK,    LL.D., 

AUTHOR  OF   THE  "CHRISTIAN   PHILOSOPHER,"  "CELESTIAL   SCENERY," 
"  THE    SIDEREAL    HEAVENS,"    &C. 

100  Engravings.     12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  50  cents. 

The  name  of  the  distinguished  author  of  this  work  is  a  sufficient  pass- 
port to  public  favor  and  a  sure  guarantee  to  its  sterling  value,  and  those 
who  have  read  Dr.  Dick's  former  works  will  need  no  recommendation  of 
this  book  by  us.  He  is  not  only  an  original  and  profound  observer  of  na- 
ture, but  truly  a  most  excellent  Christian  philosopher,  whose  powers  of  in- 
tellect and  expanded  views  of  the  character  of  the  great  Architect  of  the 
universe  are  so  eminently  calculated  to  direct  the  mind  not  alone  to  the 
grandeur,  the  magnificence,  and  sublimity  of  the  laws  and  principles  of 
the  material  world,  but  to  look  through  nature  up  to  "Nature's  God."  It 
is  truly  a  valuable  work. — Farmer  and  Mechanic. 

The  merits  of  this  work  are  of  the  highest  order;  Dick  is  one  of  the 
profoundest  and  purest  of  modern  philosophers. — Western  Continent. 

Here  is  the  ninth  volume  presented  by  this  gifted  author  to  the  public  ; 
he  aim  of  all  of  which  has  been  to  simplify  sciences  which  before  have 
been  too  often  considered  as  every  way  above,  and  therefore  unworthy  of 
the  attention  of  ordinary  readers.  It  is  specially  addressed  to  private  stu 
dents  and  the  higher  schools,  and  comprises  a  large  amount  of  new  and 
valuable  matter  connected  with  astronomy,  and  pointing  out  ways  in  which 
the  more  humble  student  can  in  the  best  way  improve  the  advantages  placed 
in  his  way. — Auburn  Journal. 

Let  not  the  inquisitive  fear  that  the  intricacies  o.f  science  or  the  techni- 
calities of  language  will  obstruct  the  pleasure  they  will  derive  from  the 
study  of  this  book  ;  for  the  clearness  of  the  author's  style,  and  the  elucida- 
tion of  the  one  hundred  engravings,  render  it  within  the  scope  and  compre- 
hension of  every  intelligent  student. — Industrial  Record. 

The  copious  use  of  engravings  and  of  pictorial  illustrations,  together  with 
the  plain,  popular  explanations,  render  this  book  a  truly  practical  work. 
Dr.  Dick  is  not  only  thoroughly  scientific,  but  he  knows  well  how  to  render 
his  acquisitions  available  to  the  great  body  of  common  readers,  by  his  ac- 
curate method  and  clear  descriptions. — Watchman. 

We  have  always  been  an  admirer  of  the  writings  of  this  gentleman,  and 
popularity  keeps  on  his  side  wherever  he  is  known.  He  is  a  profound 
thinker  and  adevout  Christian.  His  works  all  tend  to  illustrate  the  simple 
as  well  as  the  sublimest  principles  of  philosophy,  and  while  they  instruct, 
can  not  fail  to  enlighten.  The  present  volume  comprises  illustrations  of 
light  and  colors,  practical  descriptions  of  all  kinds  of  telescopes,  the  use  of 
the  equatorial-transit,  circular,  and  other  astronomical  instruments,  and 
other  topics  connected  with  astronomy.  It  is  illustrated  by  100  engrav- 
ings, and  will  be  found  a  most  valuable  book  for  all  classes,  but  particularly 
as  a  work  of  instruction  for  youth. — Illustrated  Magazine. 


OF    POPULAR    STERLING    LITERATURE. 

vi.,  vir. 


BY  ALEXANDER  SL1DELL   MACKENZIE,   U.S.  N. 

2  vols.  12mo,  Portrait,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  $1  00. 

The  history  of  the  naval  adventures  and  victories  of  Paul  Jones  forms  ona 
of  the  most  romantic  chapters  in  the  record  of  great  deeds,  and  can  not  fail 
to  attract  general  and  ardent  attention,  since  it  relates  to  the  very  beginning 
of  the  American  navy. — Commercial  Advertiser. 

The  various  biographies  of  Paul  Jones  now  extant  have  been  carefully 
searched  by  Mr.  Mackenzie;  as  also  the  log  books  of  Jones's  various  cruiz- 
es and  papers  in  possession  of  his  heirs,  with  a  view  to  procure  a  full  and 
authentic  collection  of  facts  and  incidents  for  the  present  work.  Thus  in- 
dustriously compiled  and  stored,  and  that  by  an  able  hand,  this  edition  must 
necessarily,  as  it  does,  possess  considerable  merit. — Philadelphia  Chronicle 

Paul  Jones  will  always  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  daring  and  gallant 
heroes  who  ever  made  the  ocean  the  theater  of  their  exploits.  Such  a 
name  can  never  be  forgotten  by  Americans,  nor  can  the  services  which  he 
rendered  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty,  in  its  infant  struggles,  ever  pass 
into  iblivion.  No  better  biographer  for  such  a  character  could  have  been 
found  than  Captain  Mackenzie.  Familiar  with  all  the  details  of  seaman- 
ship, possessing  the  same  bold  patriotism  which  made  the  career  of  his  hero 
so  illustrious,  and  being  an  accomplished  and  vigorous  writer,  he  has  given 
us  a  most  admirable  biography. — Courier  and  Enquirer. 

This  is  a  capital  American  biography,  of  an  American  naval  hero,  scarcely 
less  renowned  and  no  less  gallant  and  gifted  with  an  heroic  spirit  than  Nel- 
son, the  great  British  admiral.  There  is  scarcely  a  more  stirring  life  in 
the  whole  compass  of  literature  than  that  of  Jones  ;  and  the  important  part 
he  played  in  giving  force  and  almost  life  itself  to  the  American  navy,  then 
in  its  earliest  infancy,  renders  his  history  peculiarly  interesting  and  attract- 
ive. No  man  certainly  ever  performed  more  gallant  exploits,  and  few  have 
rendered  more  important  service  to  the  cause  of  freedom  than  he.  Many 
of  his  actions  for  bravery,  skill,  and  the  performance  of  almost  incredible 
deeds,  by  apparently  the  most  inadequate  means,  are  scarcely  rivalled  by 
any  thing  in  the  records  of  naval  history.  His  life  should  be  familiar  to 
American  readers;  and  in  the  elegant,  forcible,  and  graphic  style  of  Com- 
mander Mackenzie  it  can  not  fail  to  be  universally  read. — True  Sun. 

We  are  glad  to  see  the  life  of  this  celebrated  man  by  one  competent  to 
write  it.  His  adventures  border  so  much  on  the  marvelous  that  one  is  glad 
to  be  sure  of  reading  only  what  is  authentic,  and  that  written  in  a  style  and 
language  becoming  the  subject.  There  is  a  good  moral  lesson  conveyed  in 
this  life  of  Paul  Jones. — Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 

The  name  and  achievements  of  Paul  Jones  are  indissolubly  connected 
with  American  history;  and  his  renowned  deeds,  which  made  him  the  ter- 
ror of  the  coast  of  Britain,  are  among  the  most  romantic  in  the  annals  of 
naval  warfare,  and  impart  to  this  work  the  highest  interest.  This  is  the 
most  complete  and  authentic  biography  of  Commodore  Jones  ever  published, 
as  all  accessible  materials  have  been  collected,  and  are  used  by  Commander 
Mackenzie  with  the  ability  and  tact  which  he  possesses  as  an  accomplished 
scholar  and  an  officer,  accomplishments  which  peculiarly  qualify  him  to 
write  naval  biography.  A  fine  portrait  of  this  true  naval  hero  will  be  found 
in  the  first  volume. — Baltimore  American. 

We  have  read  it  with  some  care,  and  compared  it  with  other  biographies, 
and  think  it  greatly  superior  to  any  yet  published.  It  contains  a  full  nar- 
rative of  all  the  important  events  in  Jones's  eventful  career,  and  yet  is  les 
voluminous  than  previous  works. — Highland  Courier. 


6  HARPER'S    NEW    MISCELLANY 

VIII. 

Tli©  Ascent  of  Mount  Ararat, 

(ACHIEVED   FOE   THE    FIRST    TIME). 

BY    DR.    FRIEDRICH     PARROT. 

TRANSLATED  BY  W.  D.  COOLEY. 
12mo,  Map  and  Wood-cuts,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  50  cents. 

This  is  a  most  interesting  book,  both  in  its  description  of  the  country  and 
inhabitants  of  Central  Asia,  and  in  its  connection  with  the  remarkable  event 
of  our  world — the  Flood.  Mount  Ararat,  which  was  ascended  by  M.  Par- 
rot, must  ever  possess  to  the  Biblical  reader  most  intense  interest,  as  the 
resting  place  of  the  ark  after  the  universal  deluge. — Pittsburgh  Chronicle. 
A  work  destined,  from  the  intrinsic  interest  of  the  subject,  and  the  full- 
ness of  detail  which  is  spread  before  the  reader,  to  a  very  wide  circulation. 
The  idea  of  ascending  Mount  Ararat  seems  to  have  risen  with  the  traveler 
to  a  passion  ;  previous  travelers  had  never  accomplished  it ;  the  natives  of 
the  region  looked  upon  it  as  impossible  ;  their  superstition  regarded  the 
inaccessible  summit  as  the  mysterious  resting  place  of  the  ark  to  this  day. 
How  Dr.  Parrot  approached  the  region,  what  adventures  he  met  with  by 
the  way,  what  manners  and  customs  he  witnessed,  how  he  twice  essayed 
to  reach  the  sacred  peak  and  turned  back,  and  how  on  a  third  attempt  he 
accomplished  the  feat  through  difficulties  the  recital  of  which  has  led  sci- 
entific men  still  to  doubt  if  the  ascent  were  really  performed — may  all  be 
read  in  this  compact  volume,  illustrated  by  maps  and  engravings,  with  every 
aid  to  the  reader's  comprehension. — News. 

Hardly  a  subject  could  have  been  selected  more  stirring  in  its  character 
than  "  A  Journey  to  Ararat."  Held  in  equal  veneration  by  Jew,  Christian, 
and  Mohammedan,  and  regarded  with  superstitious  feelings  even  by  the  pa- 
gan, that  mountain  has  always  enjoyed  a  degree  of  celebrity  denied  to  any 
other.  Sinai, and  Horeb,  and  Tabor  may  have  excited  holier  musings;  but 
Ararat  "  the  mysterious" — Ararat,  which  human  foot  had  not  trod  after  the 
restorer  of  our  race,  and  which,  in  the  popular  opinion,  no  human  foot  would 
be  permitted  to  tread  till  the  consummation  of  all  things — Ararat  the  holy, 
which  winged  cherubim  protected  against  the  sacrilegious  approach  of  mor- 
tals, and  which  patriarchs  only  were  permitted  to  revisit,  appeared  in  many 
respects  an  object  of  curiosity  as  unique  as  it  was  exciting. — London  Athe- 
nceum. 

It  is  a  highly  entertaining  work,  embodying  much  historical,  geographi- 
cal, and  scientific  information,  and  conveying  a  knowledge  of  the  character, 
habits,  and  manners  of  the  people  among  whom  the  author  traveled.  The 
ascent  of  Mount  Ararat  is  so  very  difficult  that  many  persons  have  doubted 
whether  the  feat  was  accomplished  by  Dr.  Parrot,  but  his  acknowledged 
integrity  ought  to  place  his  claims  in  this  respect  above  suspicion.  The 
lovers  of  bold  adventure  will  find  in  this  volume  much  to  gratify  their  pe- 
culiar taste,  and  the  general  reader  can  hardly  fail  to  be  pleased  with  it. — 
New  York  Tribune. 

This  volume  has  claims  upon  the  public,  as  a  scientific  and  truly  valuable 
work,  which  have  been  possessed  by  few  others.  It  is,  in  fact,  the  con- 
densed narrative  of  an  exploring  expedition  sent  out  by  the  Russian  gov- 
ernment into  the  region  about  Mount  Ararat,  a  region  which  possesses 
more  interest  for  scientific  men,  perhaps,  than  any  other  in  the  world 
which  has  been  so  little  explored. — New  York  Courier. 

It  reads  more  like  the  travels  of  Von  Humboldt  than  any  book  we  have 
lately  read.  The  writer  is  a  man  of  science  and  observation,  and  the  book 
we  recommend  to  the  public—  Lowell  Courier. 


OF  POPULAR  STERLING  LITERATURE. 


Remarkable  Orimiatal  Trials, 

TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GERMAN  OF  FEUERBACH, 

BY  LADY  DUFF  GORDON. 
12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  50  cents. 

A  bock  of  thrilling  interest ;  one  that  can  not  fail  to  be  read  with  avid- 
ity.— New  York  Courier. 

This  work  abounds  with  singular  cases  of  criminal  jurisprudence  in  Ba- 
varia, of  the  most  astounding  and  thrilling  interest,  the  details  of  which  are 
of  remarkable  character,  and  differ  essentially  from  those  hitherto  familiar 
to  the  public  in  England  or  this  country.  They  are  fully  equal,  in  their 
absorbing  interest,  to  any  thing  in  the  famous  "  Causes  Celebres"  of  France  ; 
and,  perhaps,  for  their  unique  and  striking  features,  are  unexcelled  by  any 
delineations  of  crime  elsewhere  on  record. — True  Sun. 

Public  attention  was  first  drawn  to  this  work  by  an  able  and  interesting 
article  in  the  Edinburgh  Review.  They  are  all  narratives  of  marvelous  in- 
terest— more  strange  and  wonderful,  many  of  them,  than  any  work  of  fic- 
tion, and  giving  to  the  reader  a  clear  view  of  the  nature  and  peculiarities 
of  the  criminal  jurisprudence  of  Germany. — N.  Y.  Commercial  Advertiser. 
Its  illustration  of  the  many  curious  customs  of  German  criminal  jurispru- 
dence will  be  sufficiently  startling  to  the  English  reader;  but,  apart  from 
this,  the  extraordinary  subtle  discrimination  thrown  into  the  narrative  of 
each  particular  crime  gives  to  the  volume,  as  a  mere  story  book,  the  intel- 
lectual interest,  the  passion,  and  all  the  rich  and  various  coloring  of  a  phil- 
osophical romance.  The  translation  is  excellent,  and  a  judicious  compres- 
sion of  the  original  has  added  much  to  the  effect. — London  Examiner. 

The  narratives  abound  with  thrilling  interest,  setting  forth  the  constant 
recurrence  of  crime,  detection,  and  punishment,  in  which  the  attention  of 
the  reader  is  roused  by  the  novelty  of  the  scene,  and  rewarded  by  the  light 
thrown  upon  the  darkest  portion  of  human  nature. — New  Bedford  Mercury. 
This  work  has  been  so  highly  extolled  by  the  Edinburgh  Foreign  Quar- 
terly and  other  reviews,  that  not  much  need  be  said  of  its  character  and 
claims  to  public  notice.  It  presents  some  of  the  most  remarkable  stories  of 
horrible  crimes  and  their  exposure  we  have  ever  met,  and  gives  a  very  clear 
and  vivid  conception  of  the  peculiarities  of  German  criminal  jurisprudence. 
_t  is  a  book  which  will  be  universally  read,  as  one  of  the  most  thrilling  and 
absorbing  interest.  The  translator  has  given  in  the  preface  a  very  good 
account  of  the  criminal  law  of  Germany,  and  has  selected  only  those  por- 
tions of  the  original  work  which  will  have  the  greatest  value  and  interest. 
— Mirror. 

This  book  is  of  an  entirely  different  character  from  works  of  a  similar  title 
that  have  hitherto  appeared.  It  contains  an  account  of  fourteen  trials  for 
murder  in  Germany,  and  the  object  of  it  is  to  show  the  peculiar  mode  of 
trial  instituted  by  the  Bavarian  code. — Evening  Gazette. 

The  records  of  crime  are  not  usually  a  profitable  kind  of  reading.  The 
contagion  of  the  example  is  generally  greater  than  the  warning  of  the  fate 
of  the  criminal;  and  manyavillain  has  been  made  by  the  very  means  taken 
to  keep  him  from  crime.  But  as  much  depends  on  the  manner  of  the  nar- 
rative, and  as  it  is  possible  to  extract  some  of  the  gravest  lessons  of  virtue 
and  wisdom  from  the  misdeeds  of  others,  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  state  that 
the  present  work  is  unexceptionable  in  this  respect,  while  the  cases  possess 
extraordinary  interest,  and  are  replete  with  instruction.  They  afford  much 
insight  of  human  motives,  and  teach  impressive  lessons  of  the  retributive 
justice  of  Providence,  and  the  misery  and  evil  of  sin. — Biblical  Repository 


HARPERS    NEW    MISCELLANY. 
X.,  XI. 


INTO  THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  AND  GEOLOGY  OF  THE 
COUNTRIES  VISITED  DURING  THE  VOYAGE  OF  II. 
M.    S.    BEAGLE    ROUND    THE    WORLD. 

BY    CHARLES    DARWIN,    M.A.,    F.R.S. 

2  vols.  12mo,  Muslin,  extra  gilt,  $1  00. 

This  is  another  most  valuable  contribution  to  the  cause  of  popular  educa- 
tion, issued  in  Harper's  New  Miscellany ;  a  series  that  bids  fair  to  surpass 
even  their  Family  Library  in  the  sterling  excellence  and  popularity  of  the 
works  which  it  renders  accessible  to  all  classes  of  the  community.  The 
work  contains,  in  a  condensed  and  popularized  form,  the  results  of  the  Brit- 
ish Exploring-  Expedition,  which  Mr.  Darwin  accompanied  at  the  special 
instance  of  the  lords  of  the  Admiralty.  The  voyage  consumed  several 
years,  and  was  performed  at  a  very  heavy  expense'on  the  part  of  the  Brit- 
ish government.  Yet  here  we  have  its  most  important  results,  divested  of 
all  scientific  technicalities,  and  presented  in  a  form  at  once  attractive  and 
accurate.  The  work  is  entitled  to  secure  a  very  wide  circulation.  It  con- 
tains an  immense  amount  of  information  concerning  the  natural  history  of 
t-he  whole  wurld,and  is  superior,  in  point  of  interest  and  value,  to  any  simi- 
lar work  ever  published. — New  York  True  Sun. 

A  work  very  neatly  issued,  and  has  the  interest  of  a  leading  subject  well 
developed,  the  unfailing  secret  of  producing  a  book  of  character.  In  the 
present  state  of  the  world,  when  new  countries  are  opening  every  day  to 
the  great  conqueror,  Commerce,  such  publications  are  of  unusual  import- 
ance. Perhaps  no  information,  just  now,  can  be  of  more  consequence  to  us 
than  that  which  puts  us  in  possession  of  the  movements  of  English  discov- 
ery.— News. 

This  is  a  most  valuable  and  a  most  interesting  work ;  one  which  com- 
bines true  scientific  worth  with  the  graces  of  style  suited  to  render  it  pop- 
ular, better  than  almost  any  similar  work  which  has  recently  come  under 
our  notice.  The  voyage  of  the  Beagle  was,  in  truth,  a  scientific  exploring 
expedition  ;  and  Mr.  Darwin  accompanied  it  at  the  special  request  of  the 
lords  of  the  Admiralty.  Its  results  have  been  published  in  several  very 
elaborate,  extensive,  and  costly  volumes  in  England  ;  but  as  these  were  en 
tirely  beyond  the  reach  of  the  great  mass  of  the  reading  public,  Mr.  Dar- 
win prepared  these  volumes,  in  which  all  the  important  results  of  the  ex- 
pedition are  fully,  clearly,  and  distinctly  presented,  interwoven  with  a  most 
entertaining  narrative  of  personal  incident  and  adventure. — N.  Y.  Courier. 

This  is  a  work  of  remarkable  interest  and  value.  The  author,  in  circum- 
navigating the  world,  under  commission  of  the  British  government,  for  sci- 
entific and  exploring  purposes,  visited  nearly  every  country  on  the  globe, 
and  preserved  in  this  brief,  simple,  but  beautiful  narrative  all  the  singular 
fads  of  a  scientific,  social,  or  geographical  nature  which  are  of  general  in- 
terest. The  amount  of  information  condensed  in  these  volumes  is  incred- 
ible ;  and  the  skill  with  which  the  useful  and  interesting  is  selected  from 
that  which  is  unimportant  or  well  known  is  admirable.  We  admire  the 
style,  the  straightforward  sincerity  of  the  writer,  the  apparent  candor,  and 
the  erudite  research  which  he  uniformly  exhibits.  Without  one  quarter 
of  the  bu'k  or  pretension  of  our  famous  exploring  expedition,  the  present 
work  is  hardly  inferior  to  it  in  value  and  interest.  This  series  is  gaining  a 
fine  character,  of  which  we  hope  the  publishers  will  be  jealous. — New  York 
Evangelist. 


